Whitworth Locke is a 160 room hotel with a bar, cafe, lounge and co-working space at the ground floor that New York-based studio Grzywinski + Pons has recently designed in Manchester, England. Previously a cotton mill, the venue has been transformed to reflect the city’s culture, taking inspiration from its industrial past and progressive present.
Responding to the changing trends of today’s traveler, each studio and suite is designed to revolve around Locke’s designer living spaces, allowing guests to surround themselves in space and comfort. The result is a modern take on the designer aspirational second home with bespoke bathrooms and fully-fitted kitchens, ideal for short and longer stays.
Formally consisting of three former export mills, one grade 2 listed in the Scottish Baronial Style, Whitworth Locke has been knitted together by a blush color palette and a magnificent glass atrium which features The Conservatory, an exclusive pop-up cocktail bar with a passion for mixology, music and events. Manchester’s renowned Foundation Coffee brings FDN Whitworth, a backdrop where people can socialize, showcase art, enjoy weekly cinema nights and some of the best coffee the city has to offer.
“Our alteration of the property was principally driven by the intent to preserve and celebrate the richness of the historic 19th Century building fabric whilst obliterating a poor previous alteration to the building from the 1980’s, all while creating a distinct new language commensurate to the new life and purpose we hoped to foster within,” explains Grzywinski + Pons. “We paid special attention to the thresholds into the building and the dialogue between our interventions and the beauty of the Victorian blocks.”
“We designed the lighting and crafted the palette of warm materials and tones that at once envelop occupants and maximize the impact of the texture and rustication we both discovered and created throughout the property,” adds the studio. “We like to think we were just deferential enough to the heritage and beauty of the existing buildings, but there is an unabashedly new and bold language to the project. This conspicuous evolution reflects the way Manchester continues to grow and change. We hope our addition to this city can catalyze the dynamism we found up North that so inspired us.”
Locke Hotels has launched its own crossfit gym, The Locker Room. The premium fitness space includes equipment focused on bodyweight exercise, a hydration and cool down space and regular complimentary classes for guests, including yoga and guided meditation. Smoked mirrors wrap around the studio to create an optimum environment for exercise.
The new lifestyle destination also includes a co-working space for guests and city residents. Combined with regular events, Locke helps people to connect with like-minded people that share an affinity for the arts, wellness and personal evolution, offering an all-encompassing destination and experience. Whitworth Locke follows the brand’s successful opening of Eden Locke in Edinburgh 2017 and East London’s Leman Locke which opened in October 2016.
