The Other House is opening the first of its new Residents’ Clubs, The Other House South Kensington. With interiors by Bergman Design House, this pioneering concept provides all its residents apartment-style living, club facilities and hotel services on tap – and no membership is required…
Launched in 2019, The Other House is tearing up the rule book and showcasing a new sector of Residents Clubs – think pied-à-terre meets private club, available for all residents to enjoy. It is cool, intriguing, bold and committed to sustainability. Whether it’s for a day or a year, when its first property opens this year, it will be a house for as long as guests are in town for.
Ahead of its official opening, Editor Hamish Kilburn was on site last year to interview the owner, the designer and architect behind The Other House South Kensington – and is due to return in a month to be the first to capture the unveiling of its interiors:
The Other House is as much an exciting, eclectic, boldly designed new destination for guests coming for just a few days, as it is a London bolt-hole for those who moved to the country during the pandemic or international visitors needing a place in London to call home. Offering ‘Club Flats’, a Private Club for residents and hotel services, it is the first of this type of accommodation that the UK has seen.
Image credit: The Other House
Located on leafy Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, behind the impressive façade of 11 grand Victorian townhouses, the interior has been completely renovated and reconfigured. It now houses over 200 Club Flats, private meeting and dining rooms and exciting event spaces. Its Private Club for residents includes two bars, a screening room and extensive wellness and wellbeing spaces, including a vitality pool, state-of-the-art gym and a meditation hub. For a more local vibe, there is an all-day street café, The Other Kitchen, and a signature cocktail bar, The Owl and Monkey.
Image credit: The Other House
“Working with heritage architecture brings its challenges and there have been unexpected discoveries as well as some delightful surprises, in many cases not uncovered until the strip-out process in the early stages,” said Naomi Heating, Co-owner and CEO at The Other House. “Restoring historic buildings is incredibly rewarding and is what will make our Residents’ Clubs individual, unique and embedded with history. Given my background, we are acquiring assets In the very heart of central London and generally in need of refurbishment and reorganisation. This enables us to make our vision a reality while minimising environmental impact and breathing new life into these dilapidated buildings.”
The Other House has worked closely with the award-winning, London-based, Bergman Design House as their interior design partner. The inspiration for the interiors was derived from the local culture of South Kensington – a unique area brimming with art, design and tradition. The spirit of whimsy and English eccentricity was the starting point for the design – guided by beguiling gardens, interesting architecture, the language of arches and the nearby Gloucester Road tube station. This narrative is echoed throughout the entire building, connecting spaces, leading residents from one experience to the next. The result? A voyage of discovery, a world that is fantastical and flamboyant, but also relaxing and comforting in equal measure. All brought to life by the very best of British craftsmanship.
Image credit: The Other House
The whimsical aesthetic begins on arrival, where visitors start on a journey through interconnecting spaces, revealing hidden depths, created through an artful interplay of wallpapers and fabrics from British textile and furniture houses, all punctuated by bold and unexpected touches. Throughout the entire space you will see a kaleidoscope of deep regency hues including deepest greens, inky blues, rich burgundies and gold.
Image credit: The Other House
The lobby is designed as a stunning and welcoming entrance for residents of The Other House rather than a traditional hotel reception dominated by guests and luggage being checked in and out. Deliberately not grand in size, it is fun, richly layered and opulent. The jaw-dropping 30ft botanical chandelier, designed and made by Cox London, stretches across the ceiling, geometric tiles adorn the floors and rectangular oxblood tiles cover the entrance to the gold-toned lifts.
Image credit: The Other House
Sustainability underpins every decision that is made at The Other House and to this end initiatives have been implemented from construction through to operations – with the aim of achieving the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ category, representing only the top ten per cent of buildings. From using materials with a low environmental impact to carrying out lifecycle assessments to inform selection – it is committed to sourcing products from verified environmentally friendly suppliers and supporting local artisans and craftsmanship. Furniture, fittings and fabrics throughout the Residents’ Club from the front of house to the Club Flats are from British design houses.
It all adds up to a genuine retreat in the heart of London where an investment in eco-consciousness is just as seamlessly integrated as modern amenities and inspirational design. It is a destination for the wise owl who cares for the planet and the curious monkey who are looking for great experiences. Hence the name of the eponymous Owl and Monkey cocktail bar at the Other House. Which are you? To find out, you will just have to step into The Other House South Kensington as soon as it opens those designer doors.
> While here, why not revisit Part 1 of Hotel Designs’ exclusive concept-to-completion series with The Other House where we tour the bare bones of the project through the eyes of the brand’s CEO, Naomi Heaton as well as design team, Bergman Design House and architecture firm Falconer Chester Hall.
Main image credit: The Other House
