Modernist glasshouse suites perched above London’s Knightsbridge skyline, with interiors designed by Andre Fu January 2018

After the successful launch of the luxurious Opus Suite at The Berkeley in 2014, acclaimed architect Andre Fu and his design studio AFSO have returned to this classic Knightsbridge hotel to create two new contemporary super-suites, The Crescent Pavilion and The Grand Pavilion.

Fu’s design for these two exceptional suites was inspired by his admiration for the free-standing glasshouse that epitomized the golden era of modernism, Set within new glasshouses by Rogers & Partners that are cleverly integrated within the hotel’s existing outside terraces, each pavilion exemplifies Fu’s signature language of relaxed luxury and contemporary classicism with an emphasis on understated English sensibilities.

THE CRESCENT PAVILION
Conceived to reflect the look and feel of a contemporary English country house, the 3200 square-foot Crescent Pavilion suggests the experience of a private residence surrounded by a lush English garden. With the focus on generous comfort, the Suite is also created as an ideal location for entertaining.

Guests enter this luxurious suite through a wood panelled passageway lined with delicate gold patina fabric to discover am exquisite living salon designed for small, intimate gatherings. Here, guests can also admire an installation of colourful canvas artworks by the Lebanese artist Etel Adnan.

At the end of the living salon, a curved portal sculpted entirely in solid volakas white marble heralds the suite’s most stunning design feature– a vast 800 ft² glasshouse designed as a contemporary sunroom with 270 degree views over London’s cityscape and a romantic terrace bordered by seasonal English flowers and lush topiaries.

Set within this pavilion is an area for entertaining that adjoins an alfresco lounge, as well as a dining space that seats twelve. The glasshouse is imbued throughout with Andre’s personal design touches – from the bespoke hexagonal rock glass chandelier, the intricate stained oak partitions with interlocking brushed brass brackets, to an island bar decked in precious Quartzite Aqua marble. The hand-tufted carpet in mint green and mineral grey, by Taiping Carpets, evokes the verdant lushness of the terrace in this city retreat.

Fu has continued the spirit of the living space into the master bedroom and a second ensuite bedroom with a palette of pale racing green, mineral grey and champagne gold, allows Andre’s vision to extend from the outdoor garden into the suite interior.

The Master Bedroom features a sketch by French artist Jean Michel Othoniel.

THE GRAND PAVILION
Perched as the pinnacle of all hospitality experiences, the Grand Pavilion Suite offers a two bedroom sanctuary that will provide discerning guests with the ultimate urban escape.

Entering through a hallway decked with gloss-lacquered warm grey English panelling and upholstered with emerald green silk, guests are immediately confronted with the dramatic views of an open-fire pit, contrasted with a series of stone plinths that sets the base for an extensive lounge. The adjoining landscape is also distinctly sculptural and pure to echo the understated calmness of this unique emotional journey.

Within the Suite, guests are led to a dining salon that can host up to eight guests, Adorned with natural light and positioned to adjoin the outdoor terrace, the dining room is decorated with a backdrop of hand-embroidered wallcovering that echoes in hues of grey, mauve and ivory the rhythmic silhouette of raindrops, a pattern inspired by the works of the late Jean-Michel Frank.

 Adjoining the dining room is the main living room that is housed within the glass pavilion. Enveloped by a frame of continuous floor-to-ceiling glazing, guests will be intrigued by the juxtaposition of the hotel’s classic façade with this very contemporary design.

To illuminate this visual journey with colours, Fu has introduced a palette of dusty burgundy, pale emerald and mineral grey for the furniture, each specially designed with a nod to modernism. He has also created a small collection of antique brass lighting pendants that are reminiscent of London’s iconic streetlamps. Meanwhile, the living room features a highly decorative glass screen hand-gilded with a gradation of champagne gold teardrops. Together with an open cocktail bar and its adjoining garden terrace, guests will be delighted with a setting that caters to the most discerning of lifestyle gatherings.

Set at the other end of the glass pavilion is the master bedroom. With 3-sided full height glazing and its own private terrace, the room features sculptural artworks by Conrad Shawcross, a king-size bed, a separate dressing area, as well as individual ‘his and hers’ walk-in wardrobes. Meanwhile, the master bathroom epitomizes Fu’s signature style of relaxed luxury - a freestanding cast stone bathtub proudly stands in front of an impressive sculptural stone backdrop with solid Baltic grey marble carved into a series of full height ‘petals’ that appears to fold and unfold into each other. This expression of tactility is further enhanced with the antique brass bathroom fixtures by Kallista.

At the opposite end of the arrival corridor is the twin en-suite guest bedroom - making the suite an ideal home for family travels.

Fu has created two extraordinary glasshouse suites that exude modern luxury, experimenting with texture and colour to create sanctuaries of tranquility and unparalleled comfort. The experiential visual narrative is influenced by traditional English sensibilities combined with an expression of relaxed modernity, heralding a new era of hospitality.