Photography by Emsie Jonker
There are not many hotels that can claim court proceedings against Oscar Wilde and the Kray twins took place within their walls. Occupying the Grade II listed structure famously known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station, NoMad London is steeped in 250 years of criminal history. Honouring this storied past, as well as the remarkable architectural shell the hotel has inherited, required great sensitivity from all parties involved in the project.
It is also a landmark property in the sense that it marks the first international outpost for the NoMad Hotel brand. At 91 keys, it is rather more intimate than its LA and Las Vegas sister hotels, and although it displays the richly layered narrative at the heart of the NoMad philosophy, it nevertheless represents a rebirth of the brand in London.
It was thus fitting that New York-based interior design firm, Roman and Williams, assumed the mantle from Jacques Garcia on this particular project.
EPR Architects worked alongside the Sydell Group and Roman and Williams to deliver the property. “Transforming the once-fortified Bow Street Magistrates’ Court into a warm and welcoming hotel required an imaginative architectural solution,” says Mark Bruce, director, head of hotels, EPR Architects.
“By introducing a new glazed courtyard in the heart of the space, we were able to retain and celebrate the original building’s form and celebrate the rich history of the property. Now fully accessible, we’re delighted that this unique hotel serves as a social haven on the edge of the bustling Covent Garden district.”
