by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:16 PM ET, Tue October 30, 2018
Autograph Collection has opened a new property in the heart of one of London's most dynamic neighborhoods on the south bank of the River Thames.
The 161-room Bankside is a new design-forward hotel that is near attractions such as the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute and the legendary foodie hotspot Borough Market.
The hotel joins a portfolio of 150 Autograph Collection properties around the world, each of which are independent, one-of-a-kind hotels.
"We are thrilled to welcome our sixth Autograph Collection hotel to the UK; the first to this dynamic neighborhood on London's South Bank," said John Licence, vice-president premium and select brands Europe, Marriott International. "A social hub for anyone with a passion for culture, art, and food, Bankside is sure to be exactly like nothing else for both local and global visitors alike."
The design of the new hotel was led by Dayna Lee of Los Angeles' Powerstrip Studio. The six-story hotel has been created to subtly embed the historical ethos of its South Bank surroundings within its aesthetic.
As a film set art director-turned-hotel designer, Lee took a light-hearted and laid-back approach to the hotel's design, giving it an art-school style with added polish.
British craftsmen were commissioned to create key features in the hotel, which pay homage to its British heritage. Laura Carlin, a ceramicist and illustrator from London, provided two wall murals composed of illustrated tiles that bring to life the cultural narratives of the South Bank. Another London-based artist and designer, Malgorzata Bany, created a series of tables.
In addition to showcasing the vibrant locale through the hotel's inspired interiors, Bankside features a neighboorhood restaurant and bar. Head Chef Lee Streeton, formerly of 45 Jermyn Street, will lead Art|Yard, an informal design-focused all-day restaurant with a menu celebrating seasonal British produce with European influences, alongside classic cocktails, local beers and an unexpected selection of wines.
Underscoring the hotel's commitment to the creative area in which it resides, Bankside has also partnered with Contemporary Collective to run a rolling Maker in Residence program.
This effort will include a permanent space offering emerging artists the opportunity to showcase and create work just a stone's throw from the Tate Modern. Located on the ground floor of the hotel with direct access onto a communal courtyard space, the Makers hub will be a dynamic new addition to the vibrant Bankside art scene.
There will be a schedule of rotating makers, including a series of talks, previews, and events throughout the year.
The first such Makers in Residence will be London-based urban landscape painters Luke M Walker and Andrea Tyrimos, who are collaborating for the first time.
Walker is a contemporary artist and interior spatial designer, while Tyrimos is inspired by street art. Both use art to raise awareness about environmental issues.
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