Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Restores Celebrated Ballroom
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Restores Celebrated Ballroom
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Category: Europe
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2005-12-23
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park announces the reopening of its historic and celebrated ballroom on 14 February 2006 following a six week restoration programme.
In 1911, renowned architects Mewès and Davis enchanted London with their French classical designs from the Louis XV period, for the Hyde Park Hotel’s ballroom and adjoining rooms. The ballroom became infamous in following years when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Margaret first learned to dance on what is now, London’s only sprung dance floor. Almost a century later, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is proud to announce the completion of the restoration programme undertaken by royal architects Donald Insall Associated Ltd.
World-renowned as a London landmark and a ‘royal’ hotel, the greatest of care was taken to ensure the restoration was loyal to the hotel’s opulent Victorian heritage whilst also providing the comfort and advanced technology required of a contemporary establishment. Custodians of the programme, architects Donald Insall - famous for their conservation of royal residence Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire - have been triumphant in their use of traditional methods and materials.
Several faux material and structural features that were in conflict with Mewès and Davis original vision have been removed. In their place, new wall lighting and mirrors, a black border on the marble floor and a graceful platinum-leaf ceiling provide a lightness and fluidity as guests move upstairs towards the ballroom. Hands rest on an elegant ironwork balustrade inspired by original designs from the Palace of Versailles before alighting the grand staircase through to the foyer where thoughtful use of light stone colours and a simply patterned claret and gold carpet provide a dignified prelude to the drama and splendour of the restored ballroom.
The spectacular views of Hyde Park from the ballroom became a strong inspiration for the restoration project. Most notably, a newly laid carpet was woven from a palette of hues inspired by the fresh blue of the London sky and the lush green of the park’s foliage and lawns.
Throughout the ballroom rich, 24-carat gilding highlights the room’s many restored architectural features, allowing its abundant natural daylight - a rare feature in any London venue - to dance off every cornice and crevice.
In the adjoining, more intimate Carlyle Suite, varying shades of light stone bring to life bas relief panels depicting classical scenes around the room. In the centre of the room two majestic arched openings have been reopened, restoring the room to its original layout, and greatly increasing the sense of space and movement between the two bay windows overlooking Knightsbridge.
Beautifully restored and featuring extensive meeting and banquet facilities, award-winning cuisine, and Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service, the ballroom and its adjoining rooms are an ideal venue for extravagant occasions, lavish celebratory parties and high-powered corporate meetings. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park meets the demands of the modern business world, whilst providing an oasis of comfort, calm and classical elegance, rarely found in this age. Since its first opening, the ballroom has enjoyed a reputation as a great political meeting place for celebrated statesmen including presidents, prime-ministers, princes and sultans. It has also become the scene for extravagant parties including the legendary Balaclava Ball in 1948 and, most recently, Baroness Thatcher’s 80th birthday party, attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most prestigious hotels and resorts, currently operating 23 luxury hotels with a further seven under development in Prague and Riviera Maya, Mexico (2006), Boston and Grand Cayman (2007), Chicago (2008), Macau and Las Vegas (2009). In total, Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, more than 8,000 rooms in 17 countries with 13 hotels in Asia, 12 in the Americas and five in Europe.
Photography of Mandarin Oriental is available to download, in high and low resolution, in the Photo Library of our Media section, at www.mandarinoriental.com.
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