030 PROJECT 1


production site with a major role in the development of Concorde in the 1970s, and now hosts a restored Concorde plane. From this heritage emerged commonalities such as fluid movement, speed and the glamour of travel – whether Art Deco racing cars or supersonic aviation. The aim was to also celebrate the innovative technology that enabled what Archer calls these ‘extraordinary objects of ingenuity’.


After immersing themselves in the archives at Brooklands, Archer Humphryes has certainly taken these themes and run with them to the max, right down to the Concorde-inspired details in the toilets. But while the client was adamant that references were accurate – those in the know will appreciate the authenticity of details inspired by certain classic cars or aircraft components – perhaps the bigger challenge was marshalling both literal and abstract references into a cohesive design. And this it achieves with some verve. Anyone, vintage car buff, Concorde fan or not, can enjoy the abundance of tactile, crafted luxury with so much to draw not only the eye, but the hand.


And also, says Humphryes, ‘It’s fun’. This is particularly clear in the incorporation of indicator levers inspired by those on vintage car dashboards into banquette seating in the lounge area of the bar – move the indicator to get the attention of bar staff without having to get up and walk over to the bar. The Brooklands bar and restaurant experience starts down on the ground floor, where a display including Napier Railton car known for breaking speed records at Brooklands, an original Concorde nose cone and a Pathé racing film acts as a taster for what’s in store. First, there’s a trip up in a dedicated lift featuring a woven willow interior inspired by vintage hot air balloon baskets – the lift light is inspired by a balloon burner. Eight floors up, the lift opens onto an elliptical lobby with aluminium wall panelling and red ceiling. This space is awash with telling details, including flush rivets inspired by those of a Concorde Rolls-Royce Olympus engine cowling, and as such is a good prelude to the most spectacular space, the Brooklands Bar. Here, the eye is drawn in all directions. Above is a dramatic, red ceiling inspired by the basket weave structure of a geodetic fuselage on a Vickers Welling bomber. This presides over a petal-shaped bar with fascias


Right, clockwise Brooklands takes its inspiration from the technological and engineering ingenuity of classic cars and mechanical marvels such as the Concorde. The design is meant to draw not only the eye, but the hand as well, providing a tactile experience that is true to the intellectual and creative inspiration behind the hotel bar


Left The client demanded that all the details paying homage to vintage racing cars and the Concorde jet be accurate


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