The screen design draws on the nature of Hyde Park, with 15,000 individual cast-metal ‘buds’ projecting from a geometric, floral mesh base. With their protective panels and permeable screen, the terraces are private and transparent at once, creating an oasis for sampling some of the world’s finest cigars from Europe’s largest humidor.
Lead architect Katy Ghahremani said: “The terraces make a significant addition to The Wellesley as well as the Belgravia Conservation Area at large – one that reflects the natural beauty of Hyde Park and reveals the character of Knightsbridge’s architectural history.”
Lee Simmons said: “The overall aim of the artwork is for it to enrich the area and encourage the wider public to engage with it. The screen is in keeping with the design ethos of Lesley Green’s original architecture, following a circular, recurring pattern and with attention to detail at the forefront.”
The building, originally home to Hyde Park Corner tube station, was built in 1920. Its distinctive original frontage features a triple-height, oxblood red tiled facade with three arches. The building was restored and opened as The Wellesley in 2012.
