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The Foundry
Park Plaza get green light for London’s first Art’otel
The art'otel will replace The Foundry gallery in Shoreditch
05/02/2010
Park Plaza Hotels are to develop an 18-storey hotel on the site of gallery and music venue The Foundry in Shoreditch, London, for launch in 2012.
The 350-bedroom hotel, which received planning permission from Hackney Council last night, will be the first in the UK for the group’s art-inspired hotel collection Art’otel, which currently operates seven properties in Germany, each featuring the unique artwork of an individual artist.
The cylindrical hotel, designed by Squire and Partners, will feature a modern, top-floor restaurant and bar, spa and publicly accessible arts centre, the latter of which will incorporate an arthouse cinema, art gallery, containing paintings and sculptures, and photographic studios.
Art’otel London Hoxton will be encased in a bronze-coloured drum, perforated with rectangular windows and featuring ‘bubble’ slices that highlight views of the area.
Demolishing The Foundry
The Foundry, which has existed as a gallery and pub for more than a decade, features an original artwork by Banksy on one of its walls that will be salvaged by Hackney Council. Its demolition has cause controversy amongst protestors and artists including the likes of musician Pete Doherty and comedian Mark Thomas.
