Hilton London Bankside Hotel

ECE Architecture

Reimagining London’s skyline through thoughtful design that reinterprets existing forms while creating a distinctive floating addition, enhancing capacity and visitor experience in the heart of Southwark.

Our design for the Hilton London Bankside Hotel extension draws inspiration from both the existing hotel and its historic context. The architectural language reinterprets forms and fenestration found within the site, creating a harmonious yet distinctive addition to this vibrant urban setting.

Providing 82 extra guest rooms, the extensions to levels four, five, and six deliberately echo the architecture of the current hotel building, maintaining visual continuity. In contrast, the uppermost ninth floor introduces a new design language – conceived as a lightweight addition wrapped in a ribbon of glass that appears to float above the existing plant level.

This striking element makes reference to the Grade II listed Former Fire Station opposite, creating a dialogue between old and new, while guest rooms have been thoughtfully arranged to frame spectacular views of the City and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Our approach prioritised sustainability by extending existing assets rather than creating new ones. The innovative steel purlin system keeps construction lightweight, reducing carbon footprint, while extensive green roofs encourage biodiversity. The floating ninth floor incorporates fritted glass to control solar gain on south-facing façades, contributing to the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

The 82 additional guest rooms significantly boost the hotel’s capacity and the local economy while working within the constraints of the existing structure. Despite challenges – including maintaining hotel operations during construction – our design creates distinctive spaces that elevate the visitor experience.

The Hilton Bankside extension demonstrates how inspired design can transform an existing building, respecting heritage while creating new architectural interest that enhances both capacity and visitor experience.