Ark Co-Living was born from the conversion of a former hotel in the Wembley neighborhood of London. Both a residential and hospitality facility with the goal of enhancing the experience of sharing and living together, it offers the possibility of reserving short stays or renting rooms for longer periods of up to a year. The project was designed by the architecture practice Holloway Li, founded in 2018 by Alex Holloway and Na Li and specializing in interior design for the hospitality sector. ù
Encompassing 300 studio apartments and spacious rooms, Ark Co-Living is not just a residence; it includes numerous services like co-working spaces, a multimedia area, a gym, a meeting room, and the Pavilion, a newly constructed volume that was added on top of the building, where there is a kitchen and a versatile multifunctional room.
The design takes inspiration from the boating world and from the elegance of the luxurious vessels found on London’s canals. It consists of various studio apartments, each of which is custom designed, reproducing a spacious yet intimate environment, similar to a ship’s cabin. The rooms differ in size, ranging from the smallest ones at 20 sq. m to the largest at 29 sq. m. The interiors feature different functional areas – each studio apartment has a bed, bathroom, dining table, and kitchen, with a translucent glass wall that delimits the sleeping area. The insertion of drawers, closets, and a built-in desk in front of the bed optimizes the organization of objects and clothing.
The color palette, featuring delicate tones like sand, beige, and white, combined with neutral materials such as walnut and oak wood, gives residents the possibility to customize their rooms as they wish.
On the top floor of Ark Co-Living is the Pavilion, which was designed as a space for socializing and relaxing and contains a large multifunctional room with a panoramic view of London. Surrounded by a spacious terrace, it is divided into different areas of use, including a kitchen, tables for working, small rooms and a reading area. The large room, marked by an oak wood floor, is furnished with a long wooden table with 16 chairs, ideal for convivial meals or work activities. The kitchen area, clad in colorful tiles and featuring seven cooktops, spacious refrigerators, and several sinks, can be used simultaneously by multiple people. Eclectic furnishings in neutral tones, such as terracotta, sage and sand, make the space harmonious, while the exposed ceiling structures, painted in white, add an industrial touch to the room.
On the ground floor, the entrance is reminiscent of the elegant style of a hotel lobby, appearing as a welcoming room that invites visitors to enter. The space, surrounded by large windows that diffuse soft light into the interior, is enriched with lamps, colorful paintings, and tables with comfortable cushions and chairs. There is also a co-working space, equipped with various work stations, and an area for coffee breaks and breakfasts, that make the ground floor a multifunctional environment. Ark Co-Living represents the ideal destination for those who love to travel, or who need to stay in London for a longer or shorter period, whilst feeling at home.
Location: London, UK
Client: Crosstree, Re:shape
Completion: 2023
Gross Floor Area: 975 m2
Interior Designer: Holloway Li
Rooftop Extension, Code Compliance: pH+
Main Contractor: Troy Group
Electrical and Mechanical Consultant: Consolux
Photography courtesy of Holloway Li
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