Dorchester Collection

Client: Dorchester Collection
Location: 7th & 8th Floor, South Wing, Dorchester Hotel, London
Project Scope: Full refurbishment of heritage-listed suites, including internal, external, and bespoke installations

Key Partners:

Gardiner & Theobald (G&T) – Global consultant for construction management and costs
Reardon Smith (RS) – Architects overseeing the project
Westminster Council & English Heritage – Regulatory and heritage oversight

Project Overview

Artek was selected directly by the Dorchester Collection to deliver comprehensive refurbishment works both internally and externally to the Oliver Messel and Penthouse / Pavilion Suites. These suites are separate from the larger concurrent hotel refurbishment.

Artek’s responsibilities included:

Managing all works in the suites to achieve the restored finish seen today
Coordinating and supporting the Dorchester engineering department across the hotel and sister properties (45 Park Lane, Mayfair Park Residences)
Installation of all 300+ minibar and safe cabinets to guest rooms during the works
Providing full assistance to hotel engineering throughout ongoing works in other areas

External Works

Artek executed extensive external works including:

Opening up works (Feb 2024): Identified deteriorated areas for urgent repair, including terrazzo façade and water ingress issues. Critical defects addressed within six weeks, forming the basis for new works.
Metal railings: Refurbishment in situ, surface decoration, and gold leaf detailing by managed artisans with protective covering applied.
Terrace furniture: Removal, sandblasting, repair, and rebuilding of 24 pieces; reinstallation according to client instructions.
Façade cleaning & restoration: Biocidal wash, steam cleaning, strategic making good, and repointing of terrazzo façade and parapet walls.
Electrical enabling: Creation of accessible service spines within structural slabs, with vertical chases for incoming services, fully concealed upon completion.
Decking removal & terrace slab installation: Removed defective timber decking, replaced with new porcelain slabs, reconfigured masonry plinths, and refurbished cast drainage with lead work.
Additional external features: Six bespoke planters, two semi-circular stone seats with teak inserts, five air handling unit shrouds (design, fabrication, installation), and two bespoke carriage-style lanterns.
Timber window replacement: Bespoke curved windows with integrated security locks and triple glazing; internal and external ironmongery replicated in foundry and retrofitted.
Window fabric reconfiguration: New structural reveals and cill boards installed internally.

Internal Works – Oliver Messel Suites

Artek’s internal refurbishment encompassed meticulous heritage-sensitive interventions:

Surface protection: Fleece-lined breathable coverings for static features, anti-static film for silk surfaces, and non-slip hardboard for floors.
Service decommissioning: Safe removal and capping of all sanitary and electrical services.
Site setup: Health & safety signage, first aid stations, fire fighting stations, temporary lighting, temporary 110V power, numbered security locks, dehumidifiers, and heaters in all rooms.
Ironmongery refurbishment: Removal, documentation, sensitive restoration, and replating of all ironmongery (handles, switches, lamp housings, hinges, closers, window mechanisms).
Internal door removal/refurbishment: Full documentation, off-site restoration, and reinstallation.
Internal rooms: Extensive surface preparation, new plaster finish where required, and sealing prior to decoration by H&H (including the Kings crest).

Bathrooms & Shower Cubicles

Bathroom refurbishment: Strip-out to original fabric, heritage-approved restoration of sanitary components in 24-carat gold, bespoke vanity units, underfloor heating, re-enamelled baths, timber beading replication, and towel rails restored.
Shower cubicles: Strip-out, sourcing Grand Verde marble, bespoke faucets, wedi board installation, travertine floor tray replacement, bespoke door and frame, and original soap tray reproduction. Full commissioning within 16 weeks.

Mini Bar & AV Integration

Mini bar alcove: Conversion of old fridge store into bespoke minibar servery, designed via Moshin Cooper, completed in 5 weeks within heritage constraints.
Lounge AV/TC concealments: Concealment of wall-mounted TV and AV services via motorised artwork, ceiling and fireplace adjustments, and internal reconfiguration of library closet to accommodate AV and Lutron systems.
HVAC outlets: Five bespoke brass-inlaid grill concealments, replicating original heritage designs.

Lounge & Entrance

Lounge roof refurbishment: Roof strip-out, isolated repairs, liquid rubber coating, and commissioning.
Entrance lobby: Restoration of original ‘souk’-style ceiling, integration of keyless entry system.

Furniture & Finishes

Shellac French polishing: 52 individual furniture items stripped and polished in-house.
Logistics & artisan management: Daily coordination of multiple specialist artisans, material handling, waste management, and weekly progress meetings.
Team: 12 direct Artek engineers plus specialist partners completing ~90% of works.

Mini Bar / Safe Installation

Artek managed the installation of over 300 minibar and safe cabinets across all guest rooms, alongside ongoing works in other areas and sister properties.

Project Highlights

Heritage-listed suites fully restored while integrating modern services
Comprehensive internal and external programme completed alongside ongoing hotel operations
Seamless coordination with architects, construction consultants, heritage authorities, and hotel teams
High-quality bespoke interventions, from terrazzo façades to AV concealments and luxury bathrooms
Full documentation of works for heritage compliance

Scope of Support

In addition to our work with the iconic Dorchester Hotel, we also support the wider Dorchester Collection.

This includes:

45 Park Lane – a five-star hotel where we deliver the same level of service as provided to The Dorchester
Mayfair Park Residences (MPR) – a collection of luxury private apartments, where we provide back-of-house support
Coworth Park – a luxury spa hotel in Berkshire, where we again deliver services in line with those at The Dorchester

This broader involvement ensures consistency of quality and service across multiple prestigious properties within the Dorchester Collection.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates Artek’s expertise in heritage refurbishment, complex project management, and specialist installation. The Oliver Messel and Penthouse / Pavilion Suites were restored to the highest heritage standards, integrating modern functionality while ensuring every detail, from façade to furniture, was executed meticulously.

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