David Chipperfield plans to convert US Embassy into Mayfair hotel
07/04/2016.
[LON] UK
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
metalocus, INÉS LALUETA
David Chipperfield beats Foster and KPF to convert Eero Saarinen-designed US Embassy in London to hotel.
Rendering, access to new Hotel Mayfair by David Chipperfield Architects.
Outside rendering, new Hotel Mayfair by David Chipperfield Architects.
The Chancery Building at 30 Grosvenor Square was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in the 1950s.
Philadelphia architect KieranTimberlake designed the new US embassy, which is nearing completion in Nine Elms.
Philadelphia architect KieranTimberlake designed the new US embassy, which is nearing completion in Nine Elms.
David Chipperfield Architects has been officially selected to convert the US Embassy near London's Grosvenor Square into a "world-class" 137-room hotel, after the building's current occupants relocate.
With the embassy set to move to a new home in Nine Elms, the Chancery Building at 30 Grosvenor Square will be completely transformed into a hotel with five restaurants, six shops, a spa and a ballroom.
David Chipperfield Architects was appointed to the project by developer Qatari Diar, from a shortlist that reportedly included Foster + Partners and KPF.
"Our design proposals protect and respect the significant architectural and structural characteristics of Eero Saarinen's design, with a focus on restoring and enhancing this unique building to secure its long-term future at the heart of Mayfair, we have studied the building's design and its history as well as its surroundings to deliver an architecturally and socially coherent proposal, which will transform this purpose-built embassy into a world-class hotel." said David Chipperfield.
Completed in 1960, the Chancery Building was Britain's first purpose-built embassy. Saarinen worked on the building while he was designing the JFK airport terminal in New York, which is also now being converted into a hotel.
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David Chipperfield
Sir David Chipperfield CBE. AA Dipl., RIBA, RDI, Hon.FAIA, BDA, RA, Hon Doc (Kingston). David Chipperfield studied at Kingston School of Art and the Archtectural Association in London. After graduating he worked at the practices of Douglas Stephen, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster.
In 2004 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to architecture. in 2006 he was appointed Royal Designer for Industry (RDI), and in 2007 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (Hon. FAIA) and an Honorary Member of the BDA (Bund Deutscher ARchitekten). In 2008 he was elected a Royal Academician (RA) and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Kingston University.
In 2009 he was awarded the order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany - the highest tribute that can be paid to individuals for service to the nation - and in the UK New Year Honours 2010 was named Knight Bachelor for services to architecture in the UK and Germany.
1984 Office of David Chipperfield Architects established in London
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