Japanese Hotel in Europe, Nobu Hotel

Nobu Hospitality opens its first hotel in Europe, bringing the brand’s Japanese influence to London’s creative quarter. Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: © Will Pryce (unless otherwise stated). Japanese Hotel in Europe, Nobu Hotel, Shoreditch

Nobu Matsuhisa has been smart on his move into the hotel sector. Building on the success of his world famous restaurant empire, the celebrated chef first dipped his toe in the water with a hotel-within-a-hotel in the Las Vegas Strip’s Caesars Palace. The same approach was taken at Eden Roc in Miami, before the team was confident the brand would succeed as a standalone hotel. Since then, a solid pipeline has been announced, with properties in Marbella, Los Cabos, Toronto, Chicago and Bahrain currently under construction. 2017 has also seen a flurry of openings with Palo Alto and Riyadh set to debut before the year is out, hot on the heels of Ibiza and London, marking the brand’s entry into Europe. Matsuhisa founded Nobu Hospitality back in 1994 together with actor Robert De Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper. Combined with the business sense of CEO Trevor Horwell and COO Struan McKenzie, as well as a cash injection from James Packer’s Crown Resorts in 2015, the group now operates in over 30 locations around the world. The latest addition, Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, is set in the heart of London’s artistic quarter, offering a dynamic blend of Nobu’s east-meets-west philosophy with the neighbourhood’s creative and industrial energy. Of course, the UK capital is already au fait with the brand thanks to restaurants on Old Park Lane and Berkeley Street, so a planting a flag here was a natural progression for the group. In bringing the hotel to life, Nobu Hospitality enlisted the talents of four design firms. The distinctive exterior is the result of the collective efforts of Ron Arad Architects and Ben Adams Architects, while interiors are by local designers Studio Mica and Malibu-based Studio PCH.

Working within the confines of a narrow plot on Willow Street, Ron Arad Architects created the initial scheme, before it was passed to Ben Adams Architects for completion. For the most part, Arad’s vision remains; overhanging floor slabs and cantilevered steel beams form a frayed edge to the east, where a terraced garden provides natural light to the basement restaurant space. Following its appointment in 2013, Ben Adams Architects developed the design, taking into account the hotel’s surroundings. “We started by looking at the existing planning consent, and thinking about how to bring Nobu the brand to Shoreditch the neighbourhood,” explains Adams. “Expressive steel elements reflect the area’s heritage and interact with the public garden at the end of the building, while bamboo is used to provide screening to the lower level bedrooms,” he continues. “Our palette of concrete, bronze, timber and glass overlaid with creative textiles and warm fabrics creates a simple, considered and raw aesthetic.” 

Double-height bronze doors mark the entrance to the hotel, embossed with Nobu’s sumi-e brushstroke emblem, a pattern that is repeated throughout the interiors. Public spaces and guestrooms are the work of Studio Mica, who were asked to create an aesthetic that would relate to Shoreditch whilst aligning with Nobu’s brand ethos. “We have used a palette of materials that at first glance appear comparable to the industrial fabric of Shoreditch,” explains Carolynne Shenton, Partner at Studio Mica. The exposed concrete and tactile finishes of the façade make an appearance in the lobby and adjacent lounge, where an installation of reclaimed roof tiles in varying shades of terracotta adds to the rough luxe feel. “We consciously chose to retain the natural appearance of materials where possible, using patinated metals and timbers from different species to accentuate colour variations,” she continues. “We have also embraced the cultural heritage of Shoreditch as a centre for both traditional craft and contemporary art,” Shenton adds, referencing the works commissioned from local artist Sichi. Integrated into the guestrooms as sliding blackout screens, the collection – entitled Taizai, a Japanese expression meaning ‘to stay’ – is influenced by the landscapes of both Japan and London. The paintings are formed of expressive brush strokes, layered paint effects and graphical ink lines, each with an embellishment of gold. 

scheme. “We accentuated the concrete by painting the enveloping walls a dusky aizome blue,” says Shenton. Aizome, the Japanese art of indigo dyeing, is also used as upholstery in the public spaces and guestrooms, offsetting the otherwise earthy palette. The 150 guestrooms, seven of which are suites, evoke a sense of contemporary Japanese tranquility. “The concept was to create tranquil spaces through simplicity,” says Shenton of the calm, uncluttered rooms. “We pursued this through a palette of materials that are textural and rich as a composition, and are in-keeping with the creativity of the local area and Nobu’s values of simple luxury.” Such composition can be seen in the guestroom’s outer wall, comprising different surfaces that are interchangeable to adjust the natural light and ambience of the space. Sichi’s artwork and a slatted timber privacy screen are mounted on sliding mechanisms that allow them to be repositioned in front of floor-to-ceiling windows or a textured woven wall. “The interaction of the four planes creates the changing character of the room through the different qualities of light and shade the screens provide,” confirms Shenton, who also designed a bespoke piece of furniture that conceals all manner of amenities. “Each guestroom has a wall-mounted cabinet that opens up like a bento box to reveal a colourful interior decorated with origami patterns and red lacquer,” she explains. “The cabinet hosts an illuminated tea box, used for the welcoming tea ceremony offered to each guest.” 

Other than a few pieces by Walter Knoll, there is little in the way of loose furniture, maximising floor space and showcasing the custom designed carpets from Newhey. Also of note are the Japanese-style floor lamps that perch atop a tripod of chopstick-like rods, manufactured by Artisan and sourced through Kings Road concept store Nina’s House. In contrast to the guestrooms, bathrooms are more clinical in their design, and feature a striking brass sink made from Laufen’s SaphirKeramik material. Naturally for Nobu, there’s a significant focus on F&B. With its own separate entrance, the basement bar and restaurant is the main attraction, serving up Japanese fusion cuisine as well as unique plates inspired by the local area. To design the space, Nobu Hospitality turned to Studio PCH, responsible for a number of the group’s other outlets. “Our goal was to create a balanced union of London and Japanese culture,” say the firm, taking cues from Studio Mica’s public spaces. “We combined the local character with the influence of Japanese culture, paying attention to the selection of the materials such as teak, bronze detailing, and concrete structural elements.”

Given the high ceilings, concrete walls and prominent staircase, not to mention the linear floor plan, the challenge was to design a space that was comfortable and welcoming. “We created three different atmospheres to minimise this linear floorplan: the bar with high ceilings and a towering bottle display, the main dining room with a with a wood ceiling and wood flooring to create a warmer and cosier experience, and lastly a private dining room, with dramatic lighting and fireplaces.” Despite its below ground location, the bar takes in natural daylight through a sunken garden open for dining and private events. It is in this terraced space that Ron Arad will make a return to the project, having been commissioned to create an installation akin to his reflective Thought of Train of Thought at St. Pancras International. Arad will also create a sculpture in the hotel’s public garden, set to debut later this year. While Nobu has proved its worth as a standalone property, the option to add rooms to its already successful restaurants – many of which are located within hotels – remains an attractive offer. Next to open in Europe is Nobu Hotel Marbella, which will once again be a hotel-within-a-hotel, launching at Puente Romana Beach Resort & Spa in 2018.

sources: Sleeper, 9-10, 2017

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