Corinthia
London
Espresso
Herringbone
Explore this floor
Corinthia
Bespoke floorcraft throughout Corinthia London. GA Design commissioned a series of individual floors from Woodworks, our sister brand, for five penthouse suites and the hotel’s five-storey spa. GA Design first approached Ted Todd to discuss flooring for the Corinthia’s penthouse suites. The range of individual patterns, formats and architectural details called for the bespoke capabilities of Woodworks, our sister brand specialising in extraordinary British floorcraft. Its makers developed herringbone, end grain and Parquet de Versailles floors, alongside complementary stair treads and risers.
- Project type
- Hotel
- Location
- London
- Featured product
- Espresso
Project Overview
Considered the ultimate 21st Century Grand Hotel, Corinthia London is one of the top luxury hotels in the capital. The award winning hotel boasts 294 rooms and suites, as well as 7 exclusive penthouses showcasing individual interior styling and featuring handmade floors from Woodworks, each as bespoke as the rooms they occupy.
The five-star hotel is steeped in history. Once a former government building – even occupied by the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War – the building fell into disrepair in the later 20th century before experiencing a renaissance period due to a series of renovations in the early 2000’s.
During the hotel’s modern refurbishment in 2011, we were approached by experienced interior designers GA Design to bring our artisan flooring into many of the penthouse suites.
Corinthia London is constantly growing and evolving to fit the needs of its prestigious clientele, whilst still invoking the white-glove culture of days gone by.
The European Hotel Design Awards recognised these spaces in the Best Penthouse category in 2013, adding yet more prestige to every Corinthia visit.
Elsewhere there is the globe-shaped chandelier in the Lobby Lounge, the Bassoon Bar with its intimate piano-bar atmosphere and the perfect cuisine of Massimo Restaurant and Oyster Bar, amongst other highlights.
How we helped
GA Design first approached Ted Todd to discuss flooring for the Corinthia’s penthouse suites. The individual patterns, formats and architectural details required across the spaces called for the bespoke capabilities of Woodworks by Ted Todd, our sister brand specialising in extraordinary British floorcraft. Working closely with the designers, the Woodworks team made bespoke floors for the Musician’s Suite, Actor’s Suite, Inventor’s Suite, Politician’s Suite and Royal Suite.
Each room had a different Woodworks design at heart, including Herringbone, End Grain and Ted Todd Group’s patented Parquet de Versailles panels, which matches element to element throughout the entire floor – an exclusively registered design that cannot be replicated by any other manufacturer.
Woodworks’ skilled artisans also created flooring for the five-storey spa area, spanning treatment rooms, a relaxation area and gymnasium. In these relaxation spaces the natural beauty of the wood links clients back to the natural world and demonstrates the versatility of wood in hospitality interiors.
Due to the varying levels in which the floors would feature, the team were also tasked with creating stair treads and risers, which complemented both the flooring and the traditional features of the hotel. In line with the rest of the hotel, these required a great level of precision and care to match the expectations of both designers and clients, and our skilled artisans handled such expertly.
For quick and ease of installation, all floors were hand finished in our Cheshire workshops. Arriving pre-finished, with no need for extra effort on-site, the process was simple. These finishes protect the floor against even the heaviest traffic and footfall, ensuring they continue to shine throughout the years of use.
The hotel has since been renovated in 2015 and 2018, with updated wallpapering and soft furnishings. The Woodworks wood flooring, however, has remained, and still grants a luxurious feel at the heart of the penthouses and leisure areas. A true testament to the enduring properties and appeal of wood floors, and the longevity of their presence even in busy commercial environments.
Featured floor
To get the look executed in the River Suite (image below) use Espresso. Espresso matches modern design benefits with artisan techniques. A double-fumed floor, it has smoky, rich tones and a distinctive grain. For a contemporary look, each block is defined by a micro bevel edge.
By using Woodworks’ bespoke flooring service, you can experiment with pattern, scale, grade, texture, edge details, tone, finish and more to create a unique wood floor that you will find nowhere else on the planet, just as GA Design did with the Corinthia Hotel.
Ordering bespoke floors allows you to not only design the floor down to the smallest detail but it’s also created using a variety of handcrafting techniques in our Cheshire workshops so that the end result matches your specification perfectly.
You can also use this service to create complementing architectural details and finishes.
Decades of experience shows us the importance of understanding each project’s individual requirements. Woodworks always work incredibly close with you to create a floor that complements the interior and works within your timeframe and budget.
Be sure not to limit your imagination, as no matter the project’s challenges, Woodworks are on hand to bring your vision to life.
Outcome
The Woodworks floors within the Corinthia have now been installed for over a decade and are still looking as beautiful as the day they were first installed. Many have matured a rich patina throughout the years, developing an even more authentic look.
This project truly shows the durability of a Woodworks floor, not just their beauty. Being 20mm thick with a significant 6mm wear layer they are more than able to stand the test of time, even in commercial spaces such as the Corinthia Hotel.
These floors also grant a feeling a luxury and regality, with their defined beveled edge details helping each element stand out from the next and providing a timeless look that has already been on-trend for over a decade.
Conclusion
When speaking with LuxDeco about his team, Matthew Dixon, the general manager of The Corinthia London said: “Their craft is defined by authenticity, understanding, knowledge, passion and a distinctive ambition to succeed, offering the best possible experience for every guest.” The same can be said for the interior, with every inch of the hotel hosting crafting excellence.
Once we’d completed the hotel project, we were commissioned to work on the adjoining Corinthia residencies. Working alongside the design agency, we crafted all flooring throughout the 14 apartments, each ranging from £15m to £30m in value. We look forward to working with GA Design and on future Corinthia project.
Awards:
2011 WINNER OVERALL WINNER OF THE YEAR
2011 WINNER REFURBISHMENT OF THE YEAR
2012 WINNER HOTEL OVER 200 ROOMS
Architect: Sigma Architects & Interiors
Interior Designer: GA Design International Services
Photo Credit: Jack Hardy
Espresso up close
From the Woodworks Editions collection, Espresso Herringbone offers a similar depth of colour to the bespoke floor made for the River Suite. Double fuming develops its smoky tones, while a micro bevel defines each block.
