London's One Aldwych Launches the Lounge at One

  • September 17, 2012
London's One Aldwych Launches the Lounge at One
Celebrated designer Paul Smith has collaborated with leading art and design publisher Rizzoli by selecting over 50 of its finest books for One Aldwych hotel's new Lounge At One. When One Aldwych opened in 1998 the design was the first of its kind – a contemporary luxury hotel within a celebrated classic 1907 building. Now, in 2012, the hotel's new private guest lounge offers the supreme comfort and unpretentious service for which One Aldwych is known.

Designed by Fox Linton Associates and featuring a warm palette of clarets, taupes and purples, the Lounge At One space is a generous 1,500 square feet (140 square metres). Much more than just merely a place to rest, it is fully serviced throughout the day with a changing menu of light dishes for breakfast, daytime and evening, along with cocktails, wine and hot beverages. Lounge at One hosts are on hand to take care of individual needs such as checking guests in online for flights or liaising with the One Aldwych Concierge team for theatre and restaurant bookings.

Cozy sofas and armchairs encourage conversation, a central media area has a selection of iPads, magazines and newspapers as well as Paul Smith's choice Rizzoli books, and a quiet zone is perfect for relaxing. The Lounge at One is open to every overnight guest but not to the public who are already well taken care of in the buzzing Lobby Bar nearby.

One Aldwych studio suiteOne Aldwych studio suite

Specially commissioned abstract contemporary art inspired by the building's 1907 heritage as the headquarters of The Morning Post newspaper include a papier maché goose made entirely from pages of Le Monde by Aude Goalec and Nicole Jacobs, a spliced book text installation by Thurle Wright and a three-dimensional artwork created with vintage letterpress print blocks by Robert Wilson.

Paul Smith and Rizzoli are the hotel's neighbors in Covent Garden - both the designer's iconic Floral Street store and Rizzoli's glorious Somerset House shop are minutes away. What do the books chosen by Smith say about the designer? His selection of Rizzoli titles includes fashion, art, and photography such as “Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent” and “Cecil Beaton: The New York Years”. Not surprising for this cycling fan, he's also selected titles such as “The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles” and “Cinelli”. All await One Aldwych hotel guests relaxing in the discreet comfort of the new Lounge At One.

More information: Paul Smith shop

More information: Rizzoli books

More information:

The Lounge at One
Open Monday-Friday 7am-9pm and Saturday & Sunday 8am-9pm.
Cold breakfast buffet 7am-10am followed by an all-day menu.
Complimentary cocktail nibbles 5pm-7pm daily. Cocktails from the renowned Lobby Bar.
Complimentary wi-fi.
Website: www.onealdwych.com

One Aldwych exterior daytime