SimplyAbuDhabi IX

2 3 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I W e love our time in Abu Dhabi, but sometimes we are prompted to travel elsewhere and explore. Our escapades led us to London’s renowned Sanderson Hotel. A luxurious Urban Spa located in the heart of London’s West End, it is situated in a landmarked 1950s building that has been transformed by Philippe Starck into a surreal dream world. As soon as we entered the door, we were met with a luxury at once smart and flamboyant, and imbued with a dose of wit and irony. We immediately noticed the lack of real walls which were replaced by a floor-to-ceiling glass façade bringing in natural light through layers of sheer curtains. The atmosphere was enrapturing. Starck’s designs, mixing baroque with modern, cast a variety of interesting juxtapositions. For example, Salvador Dali’s red lips sofa is placed with classic 1960s mosaics and hand-carved African furniture in addition to a large Louis XV armoire – a combination at once riveting and culturally inspiring. Our first encounter with the Sanderson Hotel was both sophisticated and highly surprising. But our astonishment didn’t stop there. It was soon explained to us that this now stunning building used to house a textiles factory. The new design nevertheless retains a few of the original features such as the various room shapes and a huge stained glass window in the billiard room. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by welcoming concierge staff who efficiently took our luggage and led us to the reception. Grand and airy, the lobby is a multi- colored and includes seating of a variety of shapes and A Dream world in the Heart of London The Sanderson Hotel is an Urban Spa offering luxury, fantasy and well being in an upscale setting.