London's Admiralty Arch to become luxury hotel and residences

Admiralty Arch, one of the most iconic buildings in London which was used by Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten and Lord Hailsham among other influential figures, is being converted into a luxury 100-room hotel, spa, private residences and private members’ club, with a reported 12 top hotel operators interested in managing the new property.

Located on The Mall in St. James’s in the heart of London, and regarded as the gatehouse to Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch was built in 1910 as a working monument to the British Navy and a memorial to Queen Victoria. It was designed by the leading architect of the period, Sir Aston Webb, who, along with many other grand projects of the time, was responsible for renovating the façade of Buckingham Palace itself. Admiralty Arch helped to link Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Trafalgar Square.

Up to four exclusive serviced residences are being created and put up for sale

, including what is believed to be the most expensive flat ever put on the market in London at £150million.

Owners of the serviced apartments will enjoy several suites, 6-metre high ceilings, intricate crests, original fireplaces and fittings from the Edwardian era.

All residents will have access to the luxury amenities offered by the hotel inside Admiralty Arch; a 24-hour concierge service and security; private off-road valet parking service; private entrance and lift to the residences; and a lifetime membership to the private members’ club.

Each serviced residence will include several suites, depending on the final design, while owners will be able to influence superficial design aspects and interior aesthetics. The Historic Apartment will be a three or four bedroom duplex apartment; the Nelson and Palace Apartments will be two or three bedroom apartments; and the Admiral Residence a five or six bedroom apartment.

Overseeing the restoration is renowned interior decorator David Mlinaric, who has worked on the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum and British Embassies in Paris and Washington among many other high-profile projects; and architect Michael Blair of Blair Associates, responsible for the unique renovation of luxury hotels The Connaught and Claridges, and for unique stores including Christian Dior.

David Mlinaric commented: “The intention behind the interior design is to answer, and where needed for the new purpose, enhance Sir Aston Webb’s distinguished, Edwardian, classical architecture and in so doing, to present a series of traditional, English rooms. The decorations are more colourful and more in keeping with late 20th Century and early 21st Century taste. The furnishings are a mixture of antique and contemporary for reasons of styling and comfort. In this way, it will be quite unlike any other London hotel.”

The operator of the hotel is expected to be chosen in 2017, with building work currently underway.