Latest news with #EeroSaarinen
News18
7 hours ago
- Business
- News18
London's Luxury Hotel Penthouse Costs Rs 28 Lakh Per Night; Was Once The US Embassy
Last Updated: A former US Embassy in London's Grosvenor Square is now a lavish all-suite Rosewood hotel opening this September. When celebrated Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen was chosen to design a new US Embassy in London, few could have imagined that decades later, his creation would transform into one of the city's most opulent hotels. Originally built to house all arms of the Embassy under one roof in a manner befitting the classic architecture of Grosvenor Square, the Chancery is about to begin a dazzling new chapter as a Rosewood hotel. A Diplomatic Landmark Reimagined Constructed to accommodate 750 staff across 600 rooms and nine floors—three of them underground—the Saarinen-designed embassy stood as a symbol of modernist power from 1960 until 2017. After the Embassy shifted to Nine Elms in 2018, the question lingered: What next for one of London's most fortified buildings? The answer: a sumptuous reinvention. Come September, The Chancery Rosewood will welcome its first guests, offering a world of refined indulgence where diplomatic decorum once reigned. The stark brutalism of the original structure has been softened with glittering chandeliers, marble finishes, and bespoke interiors worthy of royalty or at least billionaires. A Qatari Vision with Global Flair The ambitious transformation was spearheaded by Qatari Diar, a real estate powerhouse backed by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund. Undertaking the complex task of reimagining such a fortified site, they enlisted Rosewood Hotels renowned for their elegant, culture-rich hospitality to helm the property. In a carefully calibrated balance of heritage and modern luxury, Rosewood has preserved several American architectural elements. The building's striking aluminium eagle, created by Polish-American sculptor Theodore Roszak, still crowns the rooftop with its 35-foot wingspan. Statues of Presidents Eisenhower and Reagan, icons of the square's past identity as 'Little America," have been respectfully reinstalled. A Global Design Collaboration The restoration of the building's façade and structure was led by acclaimed British architect Sir David Chipperfield, while the lush interiors both in suites and public spaces bear the unmistakable signature of French interior maestro Joseph Dirand. Inside, The Chancery Rosewood will feature eight world-class dining and drinking venues. Among them: the London debut of Manhattan's beloved Carbone and an upscale Asian concept. A highlight of the property is a lavish underground wellness retreat complete with a 25-metre pool—just one of the many luxuries tucked beneath the surface. A Palace of Suites This isn't just any five-star hotel—it's an all-suite destination. Guests can choose from Junior Suites, Suites, Signature Suites, and ultra-luxurious Houses. The crown jewels of the hotel are the Charles House and Elizabeth House penthouses, grand tributes to British royalty. For those who wish to indulge, a night in one of these expansive penthouses starts at £17,000 (roughly ₹20 lakh), with top-tier rates reaching £24,000 (around ₹28 lakh), subject to seasonal shifts. Even the most modest option—the Junior Suite—begins at a lofty £1,520 per night (₹1.76 lakh), making The Chancery Rosewood a playground for the global elite. Where History Meets Haute Hospitality With its storied past, architectural pedigree, and bold reinvention, The Chancery Rosewood is poised to become one of London's most exclusive addresses. From diplomatic history to decadent luxury, this grand transformation is as much a symbol of modern ambition as it is a tribute to timeless design.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
London's Newest Luxury Hotel Was Once The US Embassy. A Night In Its Penthouse Costs Rs 28 Lakh
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. London's newest luxury hotel is The Chancery Rosewood. The building served as the US Embassy from 1960 until 2017 before the Embassy moved to Nine Elms. Qatari Diar converted the building into the Chancery Rosewood, a luxury hotel opening this September. When Finnish-American modernist architect Eero Saarinen won a design competition to create a new Chancery for London, little did he know that it would one day be turned into a lavish luxury hotel in the heart of the city. When Saarinen won the competition, the brief was simple: "a building to house all the major sections of the Embassy under one roof in a style to blend with existing architecture of Grosvenor Square". So, the architect got to work. The result was a building that could provide working space for 750 people, with 600 rooms on nine floors, out of which three were under the ground. A Fortified Embassy From 1960 to 2017, the Chancery at Grosvenor Square served as the US Embassy in London. In 2018, it moved to a new building in Nine Elms. The Chancery, one of the most fortified and secure buildings in London, is now gearing up to welcome guests from all over the world. The coldness of the former Embassy building is now being warmed with cascading chandeliers, suites that scream luxury, and penthouses that would set you back by about 20,000 pounds a night. The former US Embassy will be the Rosewood's newest hotel in the world, come September. A Qatar Company At The Helm The Chancery Rosewood is expected to host guests from September 1 this year. Converting a former embassy, that too one as secure as America's, was a gargantuan challenge for a Qatari real-estate company. It was an engineering test as well. But trust the Qataris to do it all and do it well. So, Qatari Diar, the real-estate company backed by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, turned it around. Qatari Diar got Rosewood Hotels in in to do the deed. The Hong Kong-conglomerate owned luxury hotel chain retained the Chancery's American elements while giving the building a modern makeover fit for millionaires from the Middle East. The Eagle Of 'Little America' What stays intact is a gilded aluminium eagle atop the building. The eagle, with its 35-foot wingspan, was created by Polish-American sculptor and painter Theodore Roszak. Statues of former US Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan that once graced the square, have been reinstalled. The square itself is popularly known as 'Little America'. While the architectural restoration was done by British architect Sir David Chipperfield, the Chancery Rosewood's suites and communal spaces were designed by French interiors architect Joseph Dirand. The hotel will have eight restaurants and bars once open, including New York's famous Carbone and an Asian concept restaurant. A subterranean wellness facility with a 25-metre-long swimming pool, on one of its three underground floors, is also part of the hotel's highlights. All Suites And Penthouses The Rosewood will be an all-suite property. Its suites come in four categories: Junior Suites, Suites, Signature Suites, and Houses. Charles House and Elizabeth House, named after the English monarchs, are the biggest penthouses at the Rosewood. A night at one of the penthouses at The Chancery Rosewood start at 17,000 pounds or Rs 20 lakh, and go up to 24,000 pounds or Rs 28 lakh, subject to change. The lowest rate at the hotel is a junior suite. You'll need to shell out 1,520 pounds or Rs 1.76 lakh a night.
Motor Trend
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Personalizing the $340,000 Cadillac Celestiq Is Crazy and Crazy Fun
Driving the Cadillac Celestiq is one thing; crafting one to suit your personal taste is another. It all starts with a signal of interest, whether through a dealer recommendation, contact with executives, or simply registering on Cadillac's website. (Don't get any ideas; all applications are fully vetted before moving forward.) This kicks off a process where one of four in-house concierges gets to know you and your personal likes and dislikes, learns your history with Cadillac, and introduces you to the broad spectrum of trim, color, and material choices. These design sessions are typically done via one or more video calls, and the options are narrowed down to a small number of favorites. The next step is for the buyer to visit Cadillac House at the fabulously midcentury modern, Eero Saarinen–designed GM Tech Center in Michigan. We went through an abbreviated version of this process at Cadillac House and were blown away by the attention to detail, the building itself, and the skill of the concierges, who come from the worlds of fine art, automotive design, fashion design, and high-end furniture. Upon arrival, buyers are greeted by their personal concierge and their favorite refreshments before moving to a small sculpture garden. This area is populated with painted shapes and figures chosen to demonstrate how lustrous the Celestiq's 90-plus standard colors can be—even the blacks—all of which are available in metallic or matte finish. Next comes a full walkaround and ride and drive of a sample Celestiq to make what's until that point only been discussed over video into something tangible. If the buyer has a deep affinity for a past Cadillac model—maybe they own one, or their grandfather did—Cadillac will pull an example from its heritage fleet to display on the floor of Cadillac House as inspiration. Final trim, color, and material selection then happens at a large table, which will be laid out with samples of favorites from the video consultations. Should you need more options, a nearby wall is made from motorized doors that open to reveal lighted cubbies holding scale sculptures of the car in nearly all the available paints, the wheel designs, chunks of interior trim, and swatches of leather, fabric, and carpet in myriad hues. Various etchings and imagery can be applied to the metal pieces, too, including the wheels. In all, there are more than 350,000 combinations possible from the baseline set of choices, and Cadillac is also happy to cater to any desire as long as it doesn't run afoul of safety regulations or Cadillac's own brand guidelines. Yes, some buyers have asked if a hood ornament is possible. The answer is no, it's not. The interior has 150 individually hand-wrapped components, so every stitch, panel, piece of piping, and surface can be customized, and you can watch your selections applied in real time on a 10-foot screen as another staff member manipulates software during the conversation. All the while, the concierge is carefully guiding changes and deftly offering suggestions so perfect they seem like they were your idea. If someone winds up with a hideous Celestiq, it won't be the concierges' fault. See All 22 Photos This is our Celestiq build as rendered by Cadillac's design program. It's pretty rad, if we do say so ourselves—check out more images in the gallery. How long the process takes depends on a lot of factors, only one of which is the actual assembly of the car. (Although that's not a quick process; the 12-coat paint takes two weeks to apply by hand alone.) The buyer's personal schedule, their level of decisiveness, if they want to order off-menu, and whether they even have a design point of view can all affect the timeline. Our concierge said the average time from start to completion is three to four months, although some clients have completed their choices in as little as 45 minutes and another has been in the design process for more than a year. Based on our experiences at Cadillac House and behind the wheel, your own bespoke Celestiq is worth however long it takes.
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
A New London Hotel Is Opening In The Former American Embassy
Rosewood London's already-booming luxury hotel scene is poised for a remarkable new addition this year, with the upcoming opening of The Chancery Rosewood. Set in a prime location in Mayfair, the 144-key, all-suite property is now accepting reservations for stays commencing on September 1, 2025. The hotel's home, the former U.S. Embassy at 30 Grosvenor Square, is a Grade II-listed building steeped in history. Designed by the renowned Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1960, it was the first purpose-built chancery in London. Saarinen's design is characterized by its grand façade and distinctive diagrid ceiling, symbolizing the diplomatic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. Over the decades, this iconic building has witnessed numerous significant events, including pivotal diplomatic negotiations and high-profile visits from U.S. presidents. The new hotel will include eight restaurants and bars, including the first European outpost of New York's famed Carbone and a new Asian concept restaurant. The Eagle Bar, named after the iconic golden eagle that has adorned the building since its inception, will offer a rooftop bar experience, which is a rarity for Mayfair. There will also be an expansive spa with an 82-foot pool indoor swimming pool, one of the largest in the capital. The transformation of this historic edifice into The Chancery Rosewood is being meticulously overseen by the Pritzker prize-winning British architect Sir David Chipperfield, who preserves Saarinen's original mid-century modern aesthetic while also infusing it with modern-day elegance. French interior architect Joseph Dirand complements the approach, drawing inspiration from the sophistication of the 1920s and the flamboyance of the 1960s with a warm, rich color palette; walnut paneling; and metallic accents, all meant to evoke the ambiance of a traditional British gentlemen's club. Rosewood Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages a global collection of 37 unique luxury hotels, resorts, and residences across 22 countries, including The Carlyle in New York, Hôtel de Crillon in Paris and Rosewood Hong Kong. The Chancery Rosewood will be the brand's second London establishment, following the acclaimed Rosewood London in Holborn, which is celebrated for its Edwardian architecture and exceptional hospitality. In addition to The Chancery Rosewood, the brand has several other openings on the horizon, including Rosewood Amsterdam, which is also set debut in 2025, in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Canal District of Amsterdam.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
2 Connecticut colleges named most beautiful in the country by Condé Nast
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Two Connecticut colleges graced Condé Nast Traveler's list of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. 'At these most beautiful college campuses in the United States, the scenery enhances the fruitful pursuit of learning,' the article said about its list of 54 college campuses released last week. Litchfield County named one of Conde Nast Traveler's Best Places to Go in 2025 In Connecticut, Wesleyan University in Middletown and Yale University in New Haven made the list. They said Wesleyan University's 316 acres and 340 buildings feature 'a prominent display of Greek Revival architecture.' 'The main quad is surrounded by four beautiful buildings: Harriman Hall, Shanklin Hall, the former Hall Chemistry Building, and the main attraction, Olin Library—all of which were designed by legendary architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White, the creators of Penn Station and the Brooklyn Museum, among other triumphs,' the article reads. Mystic restaurant dish makes New York Time's 26 best dishes in the U.S. 2024 list As for Yale University, the article concedes New Haven isn't 'an idyllic college town,' but the school's campus 'makes up for it.' 'With buildings designed by the likes of Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph, and Philip Johnson, Yale's main campus is among the most stunning in the world,' the article states. They mention the Osborn Memorial Laboratories as one of the most eye-catching structures on campus. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
