There’s a lot of lore that comes with The Dorchester in London. For a hotel that opened in 1931, there’s bound to be. One of its most famous fixtures was Ian Fleming, best known for creating 007 himself, James Bond. He often dined and drank at the hotel and created the Vesper Martini for his iconic super agent. Since the beginning of 2023, the hotel has gone through some vast design changes, spearheaded by Paris-based interior design studio Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR), which was tasked with the meticulous renovation of The Dorchester’s Promenade and Artists’ Bar and the hotel’s guestrooms and suites, which were just unveiled in June.
HOTELS spoke to Claire Mabon, principal and senior design director at Pierre-Yves Rochon, to find out what the overall design narrative was and how to care for a hotel with such a storied past.
HOTELS: This is the first major renovation for the hotel in almost 40 years. Why now?
Mabon: The hotel has been redesigned by numerous interior architects over the years, so the DNA of the hotel has been lost over time. The hotel felt it was time to find a way back to the original DNA of the hotel while keeping the design consistent with modern British style. When Pierre-Yves Rochon was tasked with the renovation of The Dorchester’s Promenade, Artists’ Bar, public areas, guestrooms and suites, the goal was to keep in mind the spirit and DNA of The Dorchester.
HOTELS: Would it make James Bond proud?
Mabon: I believe James Bond would be proud of this space as it captures the quintessential British legacy hotel while embracing the modern luxuries we are all used to. The glamor of The Artists’ Bar and The Promenade, from Liberace’s piano to the Lalique crystal bar, is where we would imagine a James Bond girl entering for a drink for an evening.
HOTELS: What was the overall design concept or brief for the guestroom and suite renovation?
Mabon: For the 176-guestroom and 61-suite renovation, the goal was to weave the DNA of The Dorchester within through traditional British colors and a slightly eccentric atmosphere while creating a residential experience for guests, to feel they are staying in the comfort of their private apartments. Throughout the corridor and guestrooms, VISTO’s selection of contemporary furniture blends seamlessly with watercolor paintings, many of whom had strong ties to the hotel from the 1930s to the present day. Previously, the guestrooms and suites featured little to no natural light, so we brought a light and fresh perspective to the design through pastel colors. The guestrooms feature three different color combinations: yellow and blue, pink and green and green and beige. In the spirit of the British interior, we also played with mixing stripes and floral patterns for an eclectic layering of textures and colors.
HOTELS: It’s an iconic, older hotel—were there any design challenges that had to be overcome?
Mabon: There are always challenges with a complex equation like The Dorchester, which has a heritage to preserve though it requires renovation. Conceptually, there was a challenge in creating new volume in the space while preserving certain decorative elements. That was especially true for the lobby where the work required that we modify the facade of the building to bring in more light and that we demolish the mezzanine level. Another challenge was in creating the mirrored ceiling in the Crystal Bar and to have it appended to the existing ceiling. We also felt it was important to bring more natural light and freshness to the public areas, so the guests would have a sense of renewal when they walked into the hotel.
We wanted to ensure that while we made several updates and modern touches for the guests, that we preserved The Dorchester’s legacy. It was a challenge to renovate beautiful new spaces, while weaving in historic details of the previous spaces that guests have loved for decades.
HOTELS: How much input did the hotel’s owner and Dorchester Collection have?
Mabon: Christopher Cowdray, the CEO of Dorchester Collection, has been involved in the process as he really cared about bringing back the DNA of the hotel and coming back to what existed in the past. He was also very involved in the selection of the artworks. It has been a successful work team between our team and him. [Editor’s note: Cowdray became president of Dorchester Collection on July 1, 2023, with Helen Smith and Eugenio Pirri named as joint-CEOs.]
HOTELS: What can guests now expect when they cross the threshold of the hotel?
Mabon: Our objective was to offer the guests at The Dorchester the feel of a home away from home. The experience is designed to convey the sense of a luxurious private residence in the rooms and suites, as well as in the public areas. We have enhanced that sense in the public areas, for instance, with the Promenade that leads to the glamorous Crystal bar, while maintaining the intimate feel of a private residence. Our team crafted details and decorative elements inspired by the 1930s and 1940s, with an aim to create continuity in the design and color schemes throughout the entire hotel. While preserving the hotel’s storied heritage, it was important to bring a light and fresh feeling to the public areas. We also worked with VISTO on art selections throughout the hotel, creating a gallery-like atmosphere.
The reception area and lobby are now flooded in natural light. The elegant black-and-white color scheme feels particularly luxurious and the front desks are now nestled in mahogany niches. We have also added a stunning chandelier and magnificent mirrors in the same area. Some will say that the Artists’ Bar at the end of the Promenade is the Dorchester’s new “wow” element; it has a fer à cheval or semi-circular Lalique crystal bar with original crystal legs from the wonderful Cactus table. The back wall has a Coutard panel by Lalique. A monumental chandelier from Saint Louis hangs above a room with a mirrored ceiling and walls.