The Royal Suite at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London, UK, was completed in July 2010. For London-based interior designers, KCA International Ltd, the project was a little closer to home than some of its projects around the world.
The design brief for the Royal Suite at Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, was submitted by the client, Jumeirah Group in 2009 to refurbish the existing suite, adjoining rooms and circulation spaces to the 10th floor. In summary, the client wanted “To create the ultimate in luxury, design and relaxation, taking advantage of the hotels location and views over London’s skyline.”
KCA’s initial concept was submitted and approved by the client and work commenced with design development soon after, and as is usual with refurbishments a lot of challenges had to be overcome.
Other factors had to be taken on board, especially considering that this hotel benefits from a high year-round occupancy; the client’s investment in reality extended to the loss of revenue during the refurbishment period.
With this in mind, it was most important for all consultants and contractors to work as a team to minimise the financial impact to the client, whilst ensuring that the work programme was adhered to.
Finding a suitable time to start work onsite had its own difficulties. The result was a tight 12-week programme for the fit-out contractor Beck Interiors, Jumeirah and the consultants working around a busy hotel, which was a PR exercise in itself.
The final result offers Jumeirah’s clientele a 155m2 suite, proportions and furnishings befitting royalty, complete with wet room, kitchen and state-of-the-art audio and visual technology with the option to connect to three additional rooms, giving Jumeirah the flexibility to offer an entire floor to its clientele. The success of this project underlines KCA’s approach. The company states that it is akin to innovative ideas and sees itself as a trendsetter rather than a follower. It is being sought after globally as a result of its reputation as an original thinker and a company that dares to ‘push the envelope.’
In striving to achieve these levels of design excellence, the teamwork between KCA, the client and other consultants, is always imperative. The company sees itself as a collaborator to achieve goals that are set from the beginning of the project and does not believe in imposing a ‘house style’ on clients. Therefore, no two projects are the same, and, unlike many design practices, it is not a ‘cookie cutter’.
Whilst a contemporary solution may be KCA’s own personal preference, it also recognises the importance of achieving a solution that is appropriate to the needs and preferences of the client. This has, over time, on different projects, led KCA to the development of a wide range of design solutions from ultra modern to classical. The only common elements being that they were practical, efficient and economical solutions to the design problems analysed by the company, and the belief that these solutions were appropriate to the brief, the particular interior spaces, the end users and to the client.
Photographs of Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, taken by Polly Wreford and Sarah Kaye Representation
Jumeirah Carlton Tower London
Client: Jumeirah Group
Project Managers: O’Connel Project Management
Contractors: Beck Interiors
Interior Designers: KCA International Ltd Full Hotel Spec listing: KCA International Ltd
