Welcome back to the captivating story
of London's Claridge's Hotel renovation! In Part 1, we witnessed the incredible
transformation as the hotel added a massive 5-storey basement, defying limitations and
preserving the comfort of its esteemed guests. But that's not all! In Part 2, we venture
to new heights as we uncover the mesmerizing rooftop extension. Prepare to be amazed
as Claridge's Hotel expands even further, creating 72 luxurious rooms and suites, including
the prestigious penthouse super-suite. Don't forget to watch Part 1 to witness the remarkable
construction of the mega-basement that laid the foundation for this awe-inspiring journey. Get
ready to be enchanted by the next chapter of Claridge's Hotel renovation. Let's dive in!
The top two floors were deconstructed to make room for a breathtaking four-story, 40-bedroom
Victorian-style roof extension. And on top of that, an extravagant 1,860 m² (20,000 ft²)
4-bedroom penthouse that boasts a private lake, swimming pool, fully-equipped gym, and rumoured
to come with a price tag of £100,000 a night. With work just eight meters above paying guests,
every detail was meticulously crafted by hand, removing old material and transforming the
new floors into luxurious bedrooms and suites. As you can imagine, with any construction
project, things don’t always go to plan and the construction team ran into a few problems.
One of the first problems construction teams had when constructing the new glamorous rooftop
rooms and suites was when they couldn’t remove any more construction debris through the
hotel or discreetly bring any new materials to the penthouse suites. The answer was to crane
off the debris and crane up the new material. However, the local London Westminister council
wouldn’t allow the crane to park on the exclusive Mayfair roads for the 2 years needed to complete
the job. So, another audacious plan was devised! The solution was to put the 50 m (165 ft)
crane inside the in-service elevator shaft; this meant that the prep-kitchen and pantries
had to be moved and the one remaining service elevator had to be shared with housekeeping,
room-service and the construction builders!
The crane was hoisted into the elevator shaft
location, section by section, by a team of thirty, 80 m (260 ft) above the streets below. The
elevator shaft crane was completed in two phases. First, the sections of the crane were hoisted up
to the hotel roof, then they were lowered down through the narrow elevator shaft. This stage was
precarious as the elevator shaft also contained some key service piping and electrical systems
that are critical for the running of the hotel. Six hours later and stage one was complete.
The next stage was to lift the 50 m (160 ft) horizontal jib arm and pin it to the crane mast
protruding through the hotel’s elevator shaft. Finally, 12 hours after all safety checks were
finished the crane was ready to swing into action! The next phase of the rooftop
expansion could then commence!
However, the next problem the construction team
faced was there was no place to store materials or construct elements for the new rooftop due to
the limited space at Claridge's hotel in the heart of London. So, the solution was to construct most
of the rooftop extension primarily away from the site in Northern Ireland. This included gauged
brickwork that was meticulously crafted through traditional methods, while other components such
as finished window frames were pre-assembled and lifted into place by crane to slot seamlessly
in with the 19th Century building.
As the original hotel building is over 130
years old, the building has naturally settled and moved ever so slightly over the years
and the floor levels are different from one side of the hotel to the other side. However,
a makeshift bracket was used to bridge the gap between the steel frame and the dormer window.
Over the space of 2 years, 100 more dormers were constructed in Northern Ireland and
then transported over to London and then finally craned into position on top
of the multi-million pound extension.
As the work on the new rooftop began to pick up
speed the management decided it was best to limit the complaints from the construction noise above
by taking all 19 rooms on the 4th floor below the rooftop extension, out of commission. This wasn’t
ideal as it meant the hotel lost out on valuable revenue. However, this solution wasn’t completely
failsafe, as some guests in floors further down could feel the vibrations of the construction work
on the rooftop above. So, the ultimate solution was to pull the plug on construction work for
the day when there were too many complaints and send the construction workers home. Although,
when the coronavirus hit and restrictions were imposed by the British government in March 2020,
the hotel was forced to close for the first time in over 100 years and all work stopped. Two
months later, the construction industry was given permission to go back to work and this
ideal opportunity meant that the construction teams could work in the unoccupied hotel without
any noise restrictions. Jobs that would have taken a week to do were now getting done in one day.
The penthouse atop Claridge's has to be a beacon of luxury in the heart of London and the
new penthouse supersuite fits the bill. The supersuite engulfs the entire floor area creating
an 1,860 m² (20,000 ft²) 4-bedroom penthouse that has a private lake, swimming pool, fully-equipped
gym and bespoke Steinway piano pavilion. And as I said at the start, rumour has it that it costs
about £100,000. A night! Renowned for his luxury carpentry and mastery in using rare materials,
Rémi Tessier spearheaded this ambitious project. He is the go-to guy for luxurious interior
design and specializes in billionaire’s super yacht’s and private plane’s interior design.
The heart of this remarkable penthouse is the grand salon, an expansive living space designed
to impress even the most discerning of guests. This opulent room boasts a floor-to-ceiling
window, spanning an astonishing 20 meters in length, offering unparalleled views of the
tranquil lake and the bustling city of London.
The grand salon features some of the rarest woods
known to mankind. The extensive use of wenge, a dark hardwood grown in Africa, brings a
sense of depth and richness to the interiors. And then there's ziricote wood, with
its unique grain patterns, making it one of the most sought-after woods globally.
Claridge’s hotel then called in another expert, an aquatect - Andrew Ewing, to design
the penthouse super-suite 50m2 lake. So, what exactly is an aquatect anyway? An
aquatect is like an architect but more so a master of water design and architecture. 28 meters
above the ground, in the heart of the lavish hotel atrium, Andrew Ewing crafted an engineering marvel
like no other. Thirty intersecting stainless-steel beams intertwine to form a lattice suspended
in mid-air, creating a breathtaking spectacle. These steel beams are not merely an
artistic vision; they're also functional. Each beam is carefully covered with reinforced
glass, providing the canvas for what's to come. The magic happens as the glass lattice is filled
with a shallow, 5-centimeter layer of water. The result is a serene, shimmering lake
suspended above the atrium, reflecting the grandeur of the surroundings. Creating the
penthouse lake was a fascinating challenge. The weight of the steel presented a slight sag
in the middle, which needed to be flawlessly corrected. To ensure perfection, the skilled team
of engineers meticulously tightened and adjusted every nut and bolt, painstakingly levelling the
lattice. With precision down to the millimeter, they guaranteed that no area deviated
by even 5mm from its intended position. Such meticulousness is not without reason.
A tiny deviation could spell potential disaster – the penthouse lake's integrity could
be compromised, leading to unwanted leaks. The penthouse lake in all its glory is a union
of art and science, where aesthetics merge with engineering, creating a truly mesmerizing
spectacle that captivates all who gaze upon it.
World renowned artist Damien Hirst also
has connections to the rooftop extension. In the past Hirst was a temporary free
resident inside the hotel and at that time was given permission to turn his hotel suite
into an art studio. He was told to not worry about splattering the room with paint as after
he would leave, they would renovate the room. Hirst got paint everywhere – on the walls,
carpets, mirrors but the hotel didn’t mind. So as a thank -you Hirst presented the hotel with
200 unique prints. As a friend of the former Hotel Owner, Paddy McKillen, Hirst was asked to do a
butterfly themed stained glass window commission for the skylight of the new extension’s stairwell.
Despite having no experience with stained glass, Hirst rose to the challenge and produced
a wonderful bespoke piece of art.
And so, the transformation of Claridge's Hotel
reached its apex with the mesmerizing rooftop extension, a testament to human creativity,
skill, and determination. Despite the challenges faced by the construction team, the
results are nothing short of extraordinary. With the rooftop extension now complete,
Claridge's Hotel has further solidified its position as an icon of luxury and elegance in
Mayfair. From the lavish Victorian-style rooms and suites to the opulence of the penthouse and its
shimmering lake, this remarkable renovation has truly taken luxury living to new heights.
As guests step into this remarkable oasis, they are met with an unparalleled experience,
a blend of heritage and modernity that leaves a lasting impression. Claridge's Hotel
continues to redefine luxury, proving that even after over a century, it remains a cherished
destination for the most discerning travelers.
And so, our journey through the captivating tale
of Claridge's Hotel renovation comes to an end. From the audacious basement construction
in our part 1 video to the awe-inspiring rooftop extension, every step of this remarkable
journey has been a testament to human ingenuity and dedication. As we bid farewell to this
extraordinary tale, we are left with the knowledge that Claridge's will continue to be a timeless
beacon of luxury, enchanting generations to come.
