Surprisingly, the listed Edwardian façade of the Waldorf Hotel on Aldwych conceals rather than announces the presence of a grand luxury 5-star hotel. Three equally-sized entrances compete with each other although only one reveals the main hotel entrance, and the street frontage is lined with a series of small kiosk shops, many of which are unlet, blacked out and used for storage. Once inside, the poor circulation in the public areas presents a further barrier to the prospective guest with a small flight of steps leading them in the opposite direction to the reception desk.

EPR Interiors' brief was to completely overhaul the public ground floor areas and deliver a contemporary, imaginative concept design for the entrance, lounge, restaurants and bars. In addition the listed interiors had to be restored including the grand Palm Court. This magnificent room is the centrepiece of the hotel, with its marble terrace and glass roof, made famous by the afternoon tea dances that are still held there today. Liaising with English Heritage, this is to be reinstated back to its original glory with the use of historical documents and photographs.

The most important part of EPR Interiors' design is the removal of the redundant kiosk shops and the installation of clear glass facades that reveal the luxury hotel within. This new frontage gives a greater street presence on to the sweeping semi-circular Aldwych that welcomes visitors and promotes itself to passersby. Immediately behind the glass façade the fresh bright colours of the new lounge areas create a light contemporary feel to this space that sits well against the Edwardian façade. At the same time the internal organisation is made more transparent and inviting. The main hotel entrance is more conspicuous and the steps up to a relocated reception area are widened and extended to create a grander entrance. Improved circulation routes are achieved within the constraints of the listed interiors and allow function rooms to be used independently, which was not previously possible.

Client: Meridien Development Co Ltd