The Moorgate is a new apart-hotel in the City of London, developed by Epic Properties, which contains 27 serviced studios and one-bedroom apartments for guests to enjoy extended stays away from home. The small but complex site called for a coherent solution to resolve issues of access, circulation and internal space, as well as a concerted effort to create somewhere that provides not just comfort and security but character and charm, with a place that speaks to both its historical context and contemporary city life.
To solve the access and circulation problems, we created a new main entrance on Moorgate that leads to an intimate, quiet and light-filled reception in the heart of the building. A sculptural, white staircase, bathed in natural light, is carefully designed to respond to the angles of the building, giving guests a feeling of surprise and delight as they move up to their rooms. Each apartment corresponds to the original volume of the structure, and on the unlisted Moorgate building, we resolved the low ceilings by removing and rebuilding the upper floors.
We spent time defining a material palette and language that was rich enough to complement both the building’s historic context and contemporary lifestyles. We moved from a compressed, dark palette in the reception and lobby, with dark timber floors, joinery and ceiling panels, to light-filled living areas and bedrooms, and the restoration of the building’s original fabric, including cornices, dados and window shutters.
Although we had not worked on an apart-hotel before, we took a pragmatic look at the brief and context and to harness the charms of the original fabric. . The fit-out and bespoke furniture, non-architectural lighting and art all complement the interior architecture. Articulate, richly detailed and filled with space and light, The Moorgate is recognisably contemporary yet of its time and place, celebrating its context to create comfort, character and delight.
