The BoTree Hotel

The crossroad location of The BoTree Hotel required the design team at ERP Architects to create two distinct elevations while maintaining cohesion across the full build.

Marylebone itself is sometimes thought of as a ‘quaint village’ within the wider, hectic city, featuring weaving lanes and small businesses throughout. Due to this smaller-scale, neighbourhood-like feel, the facade facing Marylebone Lane required the use of more detail using traditional materials in darker shades. Contrastingly, the elevation facing Welbeck Street is adjacent to buildings of a larger scale that use lighter materials.

Aiming for a modern interpretation of both streetscapes, ERP selected the Black Smooth bricks from Michelmersh Plc for the Marylebone elevation. This iconic wirecut brick offers a clean and contemporary character whilst the use of mortar in a matching colour adds to the sophisticated finish.

A number of special shaped bricks were also specified to add interest and variation within the facade fabric. Cut to a sawtooth shape, the brick specials are displayed in a staggered manner, creating the effect of a knitted weave and calling back to the interwoven pattern of the car park that once stood in the same position.

Furthering this likeness are the bronze, twisting fins that begin at the hotels entrance and scale up its central column. Offering a landmark feature, the metallic lattice also provides privacy to the corner suite balconies, homes an array of vibrant flowers and unifies the two adjoining facades through their corresponding bronze accents.

Following the initial project design, further considerations were required to ensure the complex details could be created on-site. LBT Brick and Facades recommended prefabricated brick slip panels to the design team, as these can be constructed off-site and delivered when required for installation.

In this instance, pre-cut brick slips were fixed to lightweight GRC panels, ensuring the sawtooth and curved brickwork elements were created to exacting standards before being delivered to the restricted London location. LBT Brick and Facades were able to work closely with both the architects and product manufacturers to ensure a seamless translation of design requirements and construction schedule.

Now successfully installed at The BoTree Hotel, the black brickwork, bronze accents and detailed lattice design all come together to achieve a stylish and considered London landmark.