Ace Hotel, London, has capitalised on the retro aesthetic and innovative building properties of cork by becoming one of the first hotels in Europe to install Granorte cork ceilings at its newest boutique residence in Shoreditch.
The Ace Hotel group employed the services of East London design house, Universal Design Studio, to give the hotel a flavour of London’s creative hub. The approach emphasised the use of unusual materials and quirky vintage detailing to give the hotel a distinctive character and cool edge, as well as nod to the heritage of artistry and craftsmanship of the local area.
Aleading manufacturer of cork surfaces, family-run Portuguese company Granorte has championed the sustainable, ecological and sound- and heat-insulating qualities of the material since the 1970s.
The vibrant and natural aesthetic of the cork ceilings has infused the lounge and reception areas with subtle warmth that pairs with the sparse, industrial and simple white walls and grey carpets and tiles. Upstairs in the guest bedrooms, the cork ceilings frame murals painted directly onto walls by local artists.
The team at Universal Design Studio comments: “The cork ceilings have contributed to the unique look of the hotel, which now sits perfectly in touch with the trendy and buzzing environment of Shoreditch.”
