Thameside at Battersea Reach is fast changing under the architectural eye of Andrew Onraet’s AEON. Creating a World Class facility in the UK with the 2009 opening of the new look London Heliport & Hotel complex- ‘London’s Vertical Gateway’.

50 years after it first opened, the new look London Heliport will be unveiled in June 2009. A new Luxury Hotel adjoined to the Heliport will also be unveiled. The Hotel & Heliport will sit amongst a mixed-use site that includes live-work units, offices, commercial space, apartments and penthouses. The London Heliport & Hotel being adjoined make this a unique project in the World.

The London Heliport in 1950 CGI of the London Heliport in 2009

AEON was charged by PremiAir Aviation and von Essen hotels- the client, with the redesign of the Heliport masterplan for the whole site, but also with the design, brand creation and interior architecture for the new-build 70 room Hotel. Not only will this be the first 5 star Hotel for this part of London, but will be the catalyst for the regeneration of Battersea. The design of the Heliport had to tackle amongst other things the increasing security concerns. It has also been designed with the passenger handling of VIP’s that pass through the site in mind.

The area at Battersea Reach is now fast changing. Key features of the new Heliport design will include:

New Customer drop-off and car waiting area for quick access to the Heliport
Dedicated main Heliport entrance to enhance privacy and discretion
Secure airside access and security
Business aviation facilities including VIP departure lounge and VVIP lounge
State of the art business suites
Comfortable crew rest areas with the latest technology available to access key aviation information

Key features of the new Hotel will include:

70 contemporary luxury bedrooms
Subterranean spa over 2 levels
Luxury business centre for all manner of events from meeting, conference and product launches to dinner events

The Hotel – part of the von Essen collection will be the company’s first in London and the first in the Metropolitan Set and will add to the revitalisation of the area. The project has a working budget of circa £50 million.

AEON has extensive experience within the hotel, spa and restaurant industries and have masterminded and delivered unique solutions in often difficult urban or historic listed sites all across the UK including:
Aquae Sulis Spa & Crèche at The Elms Hotel in Worcestershire
Bath House Spa in the New Forest, New Park Manor in Hampshire
The Bath House, The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath

This new project looks set to further establish AEON as a leading and innovative practise.


Email: peter.dasilva@vonessen.co.uk