The Hong Kong-headquartered group will be opening Dao by Dorsett Hornsey Town Hall in the north of the UK’s capital in spring this year.
Grade II conversion
The aparthotel is taking shape in the Grade II* listed Hornsey Town Hall located in the city’s Crouch End district. The building is being restored and is set to reopen its doors featuring 68 apartments.
Designed by Make Architects, the aparthotel takes inspiration from the original design of both the listed Town Hall, with a heritage stretching back almost 80 years, and Hornsey Library buildings.
The new product blends design elements of contemporary and period styles with the architecture while complementing the historic surroundings.
Historic incorporation
Dao by Dorsett Hornsey Town Hall will span four floors, and will include a mix of studios and one-bedroom apartments, many of which, such as the old Borough Treasurer’s room, include original ironmongery and timber panelling that stretches from floor to ceiling.
These features have been cleaned, restored and paired with modern pendant lighting and terrazzo-inspired worktops in the multi-functional kitchenettes, giving each room a mix of period and contemporary fittings.
Arts provision
As well as the hotel, the new development will bring together modern apartment living, co-working spaces, restaurants and cafes, a panoramic rooftop bar and a new Arts Centre – all while honouring the building’s legacy.
The Arts Centre will host a diverse programme of performances and events, from theatre and film to music, dance, comedy, and shows, run by arts and media specialists, Time + Space Co. In the warmer months, activity will spill out onto Town Hall Square for summer fairs, exhibitions, local farmers’ markets, and festivals.
Positive portfolio
The upcoming project follows the opening of Dao By Dorsett West London last year, which added 74 apartments to the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush hotel complex, and the 268-key Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore which arrived in August 2022 in the downtown area of the Asian city state.
The Dorsett group will further bolster its UK capital city capacity in Q1 2024 with the 231-room Dorsett Aspen at Consort Place Canary Wharf. Plus two Australian sites are in the offing, Dorsett Hotel Queens Wharf Brisbane, a 387-key site appearing in a mixed use development in Q3 2023; and the 18-storey Dorsett Perth CBD, delivering 263 rooms in Q3 2024.
