Dorchester Hotel

TQ 2880 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER PARK LANE, Wl 79/33 (east side) 16.1.81 Dorchester Hotel II "Grand" hotel. 1930, the structural frame by Sir Owen Williams but the elevations by Curtis Green. Monumental hotel building faced in "art" stone. Modernistic rather than International Modern with small scale restrained use of "jazzy" decorative motifs derived from the 1925 Paris Exhibition. Principally of 10 storeys with stepped back terraced attics. Concave entrance facade to south of 5 bays and long Park Lane return with recessed range above ground floor and 3 bay end blocks. Concave angles to corners with 6-storey bronze and glass oriels; "bronze" finished casements. The "jazzy" waved or zigzag patterns are used for the shallow between-storey and parapet friezes. The entrance facade has continuous balconies across 3rd and 7th floors. Apart from some original motifs in the entrance hall and reception the interiors have been redecorated in the late C.20. An innovatory feature of the structural design is the use of seaweed sound insulation in the floors and partitions.

Listing NGR: TQ2831480330