JSJ Design worked with long-standing client Whitbread and Axiom Architects on the transformation of the Grade II-listed former Snow Hill Police Station into hub by Premier Inn London Farringdon (Old Bailey).

One of the first hub by Premier Inn projects to occupy a listed historic building, the scheme presented an opportunity to adapt the brand’s contemporary, urban identity to a setting rich in architectural character and history.

THE BRIEF

JSJ Design were appointed to develop the interiors for the hotel’s public areas, including the historic entrance hall and listed staircase, lift lobby and reception, bar and lounge.

The brief was to create a recognisable hub by Premier Inn experience while responding sensitively to the retained fabric and character of the former police station.

Alongside the interior design, artwork and storytelling were important elements of the project, helping to give the hotel an identity rooted specifically in Snow Hill and its surrounding City of London location.

DESIGN CHALLENGE

The key challenge was balancing old and new.

The hub by Premier Inn model has a distinctly modern, functional and urban design language. At Old Bailey, this needed to sit comfortably alongside a Grade II-listed façade and significant retained features including glazed brickwork, tiled walls, arched openings, original windows, the historic staircase and former police reading room.

Rather than attempting to disguise the contrast between the historic building and the contemporary hotel, the design sought to celebrate it.

Existing architectural features were retained and allowed to remain prominent, while new joinery, furniture, lighting, finishes and integrated technology were introduced with a deliberately contemporary character.

At the centre of the hotel, the five-storey atrium forms the transition between the historic building and the newer accommodation to the rear. Retained brick elevations and original windows overlook the contemporary circulation space, creating a strong visual connection between the two parts of the property.

HERITAGE + STORYTELLING

The history of Snow Hill became an important influence on the artwork strategy.

Before the police station was completed in 1926, the site had been home to the historic Saracen’s Head coaching inn, giving the location centuries of stories to draw upon.

Working with Cultural Infrastructure, Whitbread commissioned London-based artists Leily Moghtader Mojdehi and Hilary Yip to create a permanent collection of 18 collages for the historic entrance spaces. The artworks draw on archival material including old floor plans, maps, newspaper clippings, police insignia and references to the former coaching inn.

Within the reception, bar and lounge, JSJ Design worked with art consultant Elegant Clutter to develop a complementary collection inspired by the local area. Historic photography, maps and architectural references connect the interiors with nearby landmarks including Smithfield Market, Holborn Viaduct, St Sepulchre’s Church, Charterhouse and Postman’s Park.

Together, the artwork adds another layer to the guest experience, allowing the history and character of the location to be discovered throughout the hotel.

OUTCOME

The completed scheme brings the established hub by Premier Inn identity into a very different architectural setting.

Contemporary furniture, joinery, lighting and technology sit alongside the retained historic fabric, while the artwork connects the interiors to both the building’s former life and the surrounding area.

The result is a hotel that feels recognisably hub by Premier Inn while remaining specific to Snow Hill – demonstrating how a contemporary hospitality brand can adapt to a sensitive listed setting without losing either its own identity or the character of the building it occupies.