The iconic London hotel, the Savoy re-opened recently following a record breaking three year refurbishment with an investment of £220M. The interior design, by Pierre-Yves Rochon, is very much in the spirit of the hotel’s original Edwardian and Art Deco influences. Already, following extensive media coverage, the hotel has exceeded visitors’ expectations and reclaimed its position as one of the world’s great hotels.Amongst the many extravagant features in the public areas that have caught the eye, none has captured the imagination of visitors more so than the magnificent new winter garden gazebo. This stands below a stunning stained glass cupola in the Thames Foyer, a large informal dining space at the centre of the hotel, popular for afternoon teas. Both of these structures were supplied by specialist contractor Andy Thornton.
Andy Thornton was commissioned by main contractor Chorus Group to manufacture the elaborate 5.5 metre diameter, 4.0 metre high cast metal gazebo, replicating the original concept designs by Pierre-Yves Rochon. The gazebo features decorative columns and intricate arched filigree panels with an open roof, around a grand piano.
Before casting the ornate panels and egg and dart mouldings Andy Thornton’s skilled wood carver hand-carved the patterns from which the moulds were created. The complete structure was finished in a nickel metallic paint with antique over-wash, to contrast the surroundings. Andy Thornton assembled the gazebo in their West Yorkshire workshops before assembling on site.
Natural light floods into the Thames Foyer thanks to a magnificent new 7.5 metre glass concave dome again supplied by Andy Thornton, the design of which has been copied from a drawing of an original dome found in the hotel’s archives.
Andy Thornton was recognised for its special contribution when two employees from the Architectural Metalwork Department were amongst the few carefully selected representatives from the 1000 artisans, artists, craftsmen and women that had worked on the project, to be presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, during the official re-opening on 2nd November.
