The practice was responsible for all architectural design, sustainable design and landscaping as part of this £2.15m refurbishment programme which has attracted headlines from around the world for its innovation.
Unique to this world famous hotel’s renaissance has been the unveiling of their new nine-storey vertical ‘living wall’ of vegetation straddling the prominent corner to Piccadilly and Down Street - the tallest of its kind in Europe and the first in the UK.
The project was designed by Purcell Miller Tritton’s eco-expert, Jeremy Blake who said, “It’s a fairytale dream of a wall, erupting with trailing tendrils and flowers nine storeys high above Piccadilly’s red buses like a living tapestry. At its base, beside the hotel’s Garden Room, is the world’s largest collection of Urticaccae, unisexual flowers that can be pollinated by the wind. As well as hosting many different native plants and flowers, this humid microclimate is the perfect spot for the more exotic species”.
Jeremy went on to expand on the brief for refurbishing the hotel that he received from the owners, Ralph Trustees Ltd. “As the architects responsible for the overall project we were asked to increase the thermal efficiency of the building, enhance the room quality and guest experience and to transform the external appearance of the hotel to become a striking London landmark and a first class destination.”
Consequently, over the past two years Purcell Miller Tritton has transformed the Athenaeum externally to match the internal upgrading and refurbishment by Fox Linton Associates. The original single glazed metal sash windows with solid lower panels were all replaced with inward opening French doors with Juliet balconies that overlook Green Park and Down Street “.
Jeremy added, “Most attention has understandably been focused on the living wall, not only as a feature but also because it greatly increases the building’s thermal efficiency. Plant surfaces have a low temperature due to transpiration, and they also enhance the air quality by the oxygen they create.” He concluded “However, a substantial amount of work has been undertaken to upgrade and improve all aspects of this impressive London landmark. It is not surprising that so many of the rich and famous use it as their home when they stay in London.”