The Sanderson, standing proud on Berners Street in the heart of Fitzrovia, is one of London’s modern icons. Its playful, avant-garde interiors, dreamed up by the world-renowned architect and designer Philippe Starck back in the early ’00s, offered a new take on luxury and provided an alternative to the classic opulence of London’s heritage hotels.
Instead of ornate sculptures, parquet floors, plush velvet and lots of marble, Sanderson London offers something far more imaginative, inviting guests into a whimsical wonderland where obscurity rules. Fantastical touches, from sheer drapes and eclectic artwork to the odd optical illusion, soften the modernist architecture in which they are housed and give the hotel’s spaces a slightly surreal feel. Arts and culture fans will spot plenty of pop culture references dotted around too. There is a Salvador Dalí-inspired couch, along with nods to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland throughout, and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is a delight, complete with “drink me” potions and vintage crockery.
London has no shortage of design hotels, with some of the stand-outs being the charming literary-inspired retreat The Bloomsbury, the art-deco-inspired The Savoy, and Blakes, widely considered the world’s first luxury boutique hotel when it launched in 1978, with Morgans in New York another notable contender. But Sanderson London, housed in a grand 1950s building originally home to the Arthur Sanderson & Sons wallpaper and textile company, brought something new to the capital’s hotel scene with its fantastical design and social atmosphere. The hotel’s Long Bar, an 80-foot glowing onyx bar surrounded by Philippe Starck’s signature “eye” stools, was the place to be seen in the early noughties.
The whole place is brimming with nostalgia, from the old-school iPod docks in the bedrooms to its minimalist styling and silver-and-white colour palette with accents of chrome, glass and sheer textiles, all typical of early ’00s design. Sanderson London may not reflect what a modern London hotel looks like. Instead, it takes guests back to the era in which it was designed.
The rooms
Initially designed by Philippe Starck, the rooms at The Sanderson were later updated by Tim Andreas of Banjo, a protégé of the famous designer, who sensitively refreshed the hotel’s 150 rooms and suites while maintaining their original character. The simple silver-and-white palette filters through to the rooms, the minimalist look softened with sheer drapes and peaceful landscapes hung on the walls. Texture plays a big role in the design, with semi-sheer drapes carrying the ’00s theme through from the lobby.
