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Interior Designer: Studio Moren

Architect: Studio Moren

Hotel Group: Ennismore

Photography: Heiko Prigge

Studio Moren has unveiled its latest hotel project, Hyde London City, a striking fusion of Victorian heritage and modern hospitality design. Located at 15 Old Bailey, this Grade II-listed building was originally constructed in 1874 as a grand hotel before being repurposed as offices and stripped of much of its architectural detail during a 1980s renovation. Studio Moren was appointed to restore the building’s original character while reimagining it as a contemporary hotel experience.

The design approach focused on reviving lost historical features such as ornate cornicing, high skirtings, and arched openings, carefully balancing these with the needs of modern guests. A significant challenge was the creation of a new extension over an existing rear lightwell, which added 21 guestrooms and increased the total room count to 111. The extension was designed to blend seamlessly with the existing architecture, respecting both scale and materiality.

Guestrooms showcase Hyde’s distinctive aesthetic of bohemian chic with Victorian urban flair. Deep blues and greens reference a traditional Victorian palette, enhanced by rich velvets, polished timber, and bold wallpapers from Timorous Beasties and House of Hackney. Bespoke furnishings and whimsical touches, such as illuminated sleeping face signs, offer a unique guest experience.

The hotel brings together three hospitality venues: the Hyde London City hotel, ground-floor restaurant Leydi, and subterranean cocktail bar Black Lacquer. Each has its own entrance and identity, creating a dynamic public-facing presence. Leydi, inspired by Istanbul’s layered architecture, features an open kitchen and intimate timber-arched interiors. Below, Black Lacquer evokes Tokyo’s listening bars with moody midnight tones and curated vinyl shelving.

With this project, Studio Moren has not only restored a historic building but reactivated it within the urban fabric, positioning Hyde London City as a bold, contemporary destination with deep roots in London’s architectural legacy.