The Locke at Broken Wharf breathes new life into a 1970s office building
Inside the new Locke at Broken Wharf in London, it’s like nature has pushed through the cracks and bloomed into a garden of textures, colors, and forms. Designed by New York-based architecture studio Grzywinski+Pons, the 113-room hotel is set inside a former 1970s office building that has long lines, low ceilings, and industrial grit.
“We are happy with how the property is legible as a whole, but still has unique spaces with their own vibes within it,” says firm partner and cofounder Matthew Grzywinski. “We loved the unique aspect of this long, eccentric space and didn’t want to chop it up and squander the opportunity to celebrate its still tenuous expansiveness. However, we still kept the subspaces very intimate and warm.”
The ground floor of the hotel features an open floorplan
Stretching from the Thames at the Millennium Bridge to what the architects describe as a dystopian vehicular tunnel straight out of Blade Runner, the long brick building is broken up by several wide turrets. Like the varied setting, the structure’s odd shape and industrial bones became a source of inspiration.
On the open-space ground floor, which houses a bar, restaurant, lounge, and coworking area, the architects distinguished individual areas with canopies, mirrored mobile screens, and additional columns. Complementing the building’s exposed industrial elements, perforated stainless steel panels, rib decking, and chain mail curtains juxtapose a soothingly soft color palette, warm materials, and potted plans scattered throughout.
Rooms are outfitted with sage green walls, vermillion window frames, and coffered wainscoting that highlights the building’s unique form. “We wanted the feel to be happy and warm and lush,” says Grzywinski,”all while celebrating the unique plan and incredible, varied setting.”
Warm materials and greenery soften the building’s industrial elements
The ground floor includes a bar, restaurant, lounge, and coworking space
The hotel features a soothing color palette
