Architect John Heah Designs for The Berkeley Hotel, London

Towards the end of last Summer The Berkeley Hotel in London unveiled its new Terrace Suites as part of its extensive renovation project. By the end of September, the entire first floor of the hotel was transformed, with 17 contemporary, new-look rooms including the Gallery suite (complete with rotating art collection), the Park suite, which faces Hyde Park, and the “palatial” two-bedroom Apartment, which measures 232 sq/m.

Under the direction of architect and designer John Heah, who has worked on some of the world’s most pioneering hotel designs including Aman properties and The Four Seasons hotels, the new first floor enhances the hotel’s contemporary style. Heah’s fusion of Asian and British interiors brings a well-travelled residential feel to the suites with dramatic glass terraces designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Within this urban apartment style, Heah has created a design aesthetic inspired by global travel and a sense of peacefulness. 

Throughout the creative process, Heah sourced over 30 fabrics and materials from all over the world from Thai silk, to Chinese wool and Swedish wood, working closely with local craftsmen and artisans. Sustainable teak complements a neutral colour palette, interspersed with pops of colour through an array of artwork carefully selected by the hotel’s co-owner Paddy McKillen and Heah, both seasoned globetrotters.

The soft level lighting encased in intricately curved marble has been sourced from George Sexton Associates. Combined with the striking teak floors, this brings a graphic sense of modern linearity to the rooms and the first floor corridor with intricate details in the embedded hand woven silk and wool Nepalese carpets. A signature of these suites created by Heah, are double sided butler cupboards which offer guests a discrete level of service.

Commenting on his design Heah says, ‘We have gone to great efforts to combine bespoke craftsmanship with the height of quality in all materials used and have travelled the world to collate an eclectic collection of one off pieces for these suites. Attention to detail is at the heart of our design and I hope we have created a contemporary urban style, unparalleled with anything seen before in London.’