London's Dorchester Hotel to Join Open House Architecture Tour

  • June 4, 2011
London's Dorchester Hotel to Join Open House Architecture Tour
The Dorchester will provide a private behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel and its restaurants and spa for 20 ballot winners. Open House London celebrates great design and architecture of the capital city, by providing complimentary and exclusive access to buildings, places and neighborhoods that normally are not open to the public. For the third consecutive year, visitors and Londoners alike will have a chance to marvel at the historic interior design of The Dorchester from the last 80 years.

The tour will include access to The Penthouse and Pavilion, a stunning eighth-floor banqueting suite designed by Oliver Messel in 1952. Celebrated furniture designer Thomas Messel will host this year's tour, giving insight into the work of his uncle and talking guests through the intricate design inspired by the stage set for "Sleeping Beauty" in The Penthouse and by scenes from "The Magic Flute" in The Pavilion. The Dorchester remains the only place in the world where the public has physical access to Oliver Messel's work.

This year, The Dorchester celebrates its 80th anniversary. In celebration, The Dorchester is collaborating with the international charity, Trees for Cities (TfC), to plant 80 "Future Great Trees" in London. The project will see 15 trees planted in Mayfair and St. James's to form The Dorchester Anniversary Walk, and a further 65 planted across London in areas to be identified by TfC.

The Dorchester will also renovate a number of suites, under the design direction of Alexandra Champalimaud, refreshing the hotel's inherently British, classic residential style. The 1,000-capacity ballroom will also undergo complete refurbishment this summer. Recent refurbishments at The Dorchester have included the expansion and renovation of The Dorchester Spa in 2009, the launch of three Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in 2007 and the addition of three contemporary roof suites also by Alexandra Champalimaud. For more information, email competition.dorchester@dorchestercollection.com.

Hotel Profile: The Dorchester