HOME AWAY FROM HOME: HOME HOUSE
Architecture, Artists, Bars, Designers, Hotels, London Town, Restaurants
Serendipity finally brought A-Gent of Style to Home House last week, one of London's most exclusive private members clubs. Not being a member, A-Gent was eager to find out for himself what the fuss was all about and most importantly to judge the interiors by himself. The teasing around him in the last few months had become almost unbearable. Not only is the exclusive establishment five minutes' walk from where he lives, meaning he gets to walk past it on many occasions (you can see very little from outside; not from lack of trying!) but also a few friends had either been in lately or had mentioned it in conversation. So when an invitation for a business meeting came up last week (thanks Kathryn), A-Gent of Style jumped at the opportunity.
Home House is where the media, fashion and creative affiliates (that's interior desecrators too) come to relax or be entertained (they have an enviable calendar of social events and societies) and also find everything they would expect in terms of luxury, service and privacy. Home House boosts different restaurants, bars, drawing rooms, party rooms, dining rooms, a gym, spa, boardroom, outdoor fumoir, courtyard garden and last but not least elegant bedrooms and suites.
Spread across three immaculately preserved and restored Grade I and II listed Georgian townhouses all seamlessly linked at 19, 20 and 21 on Marylebone's elegant Portman Square, W1, Home House mixes the elegance and grandeur of the building rooted in the 18th Century with the vibrant interiors of the 21st Century courtesy of Candy & Candy and the futuristic minimalism of Zaha Hadid.
A-Gent of Style's preference for N0 20 over the two other buildings decorated by Candy & Candy in a more contemporary manner less sympathetic to the original features is in sharp contrast to the magnificence of the more traditional, elegant proportions typical of neo-classicism and sumptuous décor of the various drawing rooms enwrapped in a palette of Ladurée macaroons (reminiscent of Adam's resplendent Syon House). Call A-Gent a purist.
Commissioned in 1773 by the notorious Elizabeth, Countess of Home, aptly known as 'The Queen of Hell', then in her sixties, who wanted a sophisticated 'Pavilion' built and designed purely for enjoyment and entertainment at N° 20 Portman Square, the "Palace of Pleasure" was designed by George III's architect James Wyatt that same year (A-Gent of Style featured the Georgian architect a few months ago during a collaboration with Colefax & Fowler who hosted a special exhibition) but his competitor Robert Adam, one of the most celebrated architects of his day, was appointed to complete the interior of the house in the sumptuous Neo-Classical style after Wyatt had been dismissed in 1777.
N° 20 Portman Square is acknowledged to this day as Robert Adam's finest surviving London townhouse. The interior is conceived as a series of grand reception rooms, beginning with a typically austere hall, leading to one of the most breathtaking "tour de forces" in European architecture, Adam's Imperial staircase, which rises through the entire height of the house to a glass dome, revealing the sky above.
A design by Robert Adam for the main staircase at Home House in Portman Square, London. Photography of a late 18th century original in the Soane Collection at the Soane Museum, London.
So without further ado, A-Gent of Style would like to let you in Home House and show you what he discovered last week during his visit of the 'Queen of Hell"s 'Palace of Pleasure'. A-Gent of Style didn't have enough time to see the bedrooms and suites. Perhaps they will make it to the 'Part 2'!
House N0 20:
– Some photos by Home House, mostly by A-Gent of Style –
THE EUROPEAN HOTEL DESIGN AWARDS: THE RESULTS
Architecture, Bars, Designers, Hotels, London Town, Restaurants
Sleep 2013 opens today and last night, as the official partner of
the The European Hotel Design Awards, an awards ceremony celebrated exceptional hotel design and architecture, honouring the work of industry leading architects and designers, and the projects they create with hotel developers, owners and operators.
The shortlisted entries (the Wellesley hotel reviewed and 'dissected' by A-Gent of Style in part 1 & part 2 was nominated in an impressive three categories) were chosen by an expert panel of judges across thirteen categories.
The winners were announced at the glittering awards ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge night presented by broadcaster Lauren Laverne and A-Gent of Style was present at the glitzy 1920s-themed gala, burgundy velvet smoking jacket in tow amongst the 900-odd guests.
Despite having had little sleep last night, A-Gent of Style is still on the pulse this morning to reveal the winners for each category. Of course, if you were following me on Twitter last night, you already know the outcome by now.
And the winners are (drum roll):
Architecture of the Year
Conversion and/or Extension of an Existing Hotel Building:
Conversion of an Existing Non-Hotel Building to Hotel Use:
Newbuild Hotel:
Interior Design of the Year
Lobby, Lounge & Public Areas:
Cafe or All Day Dining:
Bedrooms & Bathrooms:
Spa, Health & Leisure Facilities:
And the winner of the European Hotel Design of the Year Award goes to:
The Alpina Gstaad, by The Gallery HBA London
Inge Moore, Principal & Creative Director at The Gallery HBA London, picked up the third award of the night
Tomorrow's Hotel:
The Reardonsmith Student Award:
James Young, Canterbury School of Architecture
The Outstanding Contribution Award:
Ian Schrager, Chairman and CEO of Ian Schrager Company
And finally, a heartfelt tribute was paid to the late David Collins by Jeremy King (you can see A-Gent's tribute here)
A-Gent of Style is thrilled to announce he will be interviewing today at Sleep the award-winning Inge Moore of HBA and also Catherine Ince, curator of the Pop Art exhibition at the Barbican Centre and judge of the Sleep Hotel.
All will be revealed in the next few days. Don't go away!
THE SLEEP EVENT 2013 & THE EUROPEAN HOTEL DESIGN AWARDS CEREMONY
Artisans, Bars, Design, Designers, Exhibitions, Fairs, Furniture, Hotels, London Town, Restaurants
Second day of this action-packed week and A-Gent of Style is prepping this morning for two important events that he will be covering and reporting from in the next three days. Excited doesn't even start to cover it.
By Kelly Hoppen
The first one is the Sleep event, Europe's annual leading trade event for hotel design, development and architecture, returning once again to London this year. Doors will open tomorrow morning at 10am until Thursday 6pm for two days crammed with exciting and inspiring features comprising the Exhib with suppliers of the hotel design sector showcasing their latest products and innovations, the Sleep Conference with seminars and talks involving influential industry professionals, the Sleep Hotel competition where five designers have created hotel rooms on a theme, the Tech Hub showcasing the latest technology inventions, and finally, an awards ceremony.
This cultural hotspot taking place at the Business Design Centre Islington, London N1 will provide a platform to keep abreast of new innovations and trends and a fantastic opportunity to network amongst industry experts, exchange ideas, and gather inspiration.
The Sleep Conference will be the educational programme of the event and boasts leading international figures taking part in keynote presentations, panel debates and round tables discussions. You can see the full programme and how to register here.
A-Gent of Style is delighted to announce that Sleep have asked him to interview two key speakers amongst the programme:
Catherine Ince, Curator of the Pop Art exhibition at the Barbican and one of the three judges on the panel of the Sleep Hotel
And Inge Moore, Principal & Creative Director at Hirsch Bedner Associates and winner of the 2013 Gold Key Designer of the Year at the The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS)
Both interviews will appear next week on A-Gent of Style in a special feature.
Having reviewed and 'dissected' the new London EDITION hotel last month, A-Gent of Style is particularly thrilled to attend a conversation with hotel design guru and this year's Conference headliner, Ian Schrager.
A-Gent of Style, like many in the industry, was saddened to hear the passing last week of Alex Calderwood, co-founder and owner of the ACE Hotels, and was looking forward to attending his talk. Another design luminary sadly lost this year.
Ace Hotel, Shoreditch, London
As in previous years, a dreamt-up Sleep Hotel will be returning and the brief this time is inspired by the widespread interest in, and nostalgia for, the 1960s.
In association with the Barbican's Pop Art Design exhibition, five designers have been tasked to invoke the spirit of the era within their life-size hotel junior suites rooms and bathrooms in a fictitious hotel originally built during the heyday of Pop Art whilst incorporating products from the 150 hotel industry's finest product suppliers. The winning room, judged by three key figures including Catherine Ince, will be announced at 7pm tomorrow night from the Sleep Hotel Bar, designed by Nous Design, during the late night networking drinks event (6pm – 8pm), providing a perfect opportunity to engage with industry peers alongside a live DJ set by Michaelango L'Acqua, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Soniq and complimentary refreshments.
Sleep 2013 is also the official partner of the The European Hotel Design Awards. The EHDA celebrate exceptional hotel design and architecture, honouring the work of industry leading architects and designers, and the projects they create with hotel developers, owners and operators.
A-Gent of Style is thrilled to be invited to the glittering awards ceremony this evening at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel. An expert panel of judges will be choosing the winners from shortlisted entries (the Wellesley hotel designed by Fox Linton Associates, and 'dissected' by A-Gent of Style in part 1 & part 2, is nominated in an impressive three categories and Hirsch Bedner Associates, whose European Principal Inge Moore will be interviewing, is up for four awards) and the results will be announced this evening.
As luck would have it, the theme and dress code this year for the gala are the 1920s, the perfect excuse for Art Deco-fanatic A-Gent of Style to Chanel his inner Great Gatsby and don his burgundy velvet smoking jacket.
Stay tuned tomorrow morning as A-Gent of Style will be revealing the winners for each category. If you follow A-Gent on Twitter tonight, you will be able to find out the outcomes live.
And in each category (drum roll)…
Conversion and/or Extension of an Existing Hotel Building
Conversion of an Existing Non-Hotel Building to Hotel Use
Newbuild Hotel
Lobby, Lounge & Public Areas
Cafe or All Day Dining
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Spa, Health & Leisure Facilities