Glass water wall, Main entrance, Sofitel, Terminal 5, Heathrow
Antarctica themed water feature, Main atrium, Sofitel, Terminal 5
Standalone water wall, Restaurant, Sofitel, Terminal 5, Heathrow
Zen garden styled water feature, Sofitel, Terminal 5, Heathrow
Slate water wall, Health Suite, Sofitel, Terminal 5, Heathrow
SOFITEL LONDON HEATHROW
Terminal 5
BRIEF: Design, develop and produce commercial water features for five key locations in the 605-room Sofitel London Heathrow - the only hotel directly linked to the new Terminal 5 - in association with interior designers KCA International and the Concept Architect, Stephen Williams.
SOLUTION:
Main entrance
Glass water wall
A 6 metre high water wall featuring the largest single piece of glass on the site, requiring specialist handling and purpose-designed fixing clamps. The glass is etched into a checkerboard pattern and illuminated by a colour wash from a discrete integral lighting system. The David Harber team liaised with the architect, designers and business contractors to ensure that the pump and filtration equipment housing was no less elegant than the main design.
Main atrium
Following the originally conceived five continents theme, David developed KCA's concept for an Antarctica water feature in the hotel's reception area in the main atrium. Built around a huge glass ice cube and a 4 metre water tube relected to infinity by the mirrored ceiling, the water feature is over 7 metres long and appears to be floating freely above the floor.
Restaurant
In a third atrium, we created a 3 x 3.5m glass water wall framed in stainless steel as part of KCA’s design for the Brasserie Roux with celebrated chef Albert Roux OBE. Pumps, switching and programmable down-lighters were all seamlessly incorporated into the frame to create the ideal ambiance for different times of day.
Zen water feature
In the Asia atrium we created a calming and contemplative water feature inspired by the Zen gardens of the far East. Gentle waves shimmer across the kidney-shaped pool, magically sustained by an invisible layer of acrylic positioned just beneath the surface of the water.
Health Suite
To meet KCA's requirement for a slate water wall between the sauna and the steam room, we designed and fabricated a structure to fit the confines of the space and blend in with the surroundings. The soothing sound of the falling water is accompanied by a subtle shimmering movement across the dark surface of the wall.