Hip indie operator of four and five star serviced apartments, Staying Cool, is expanding its collection in June with the launch of 15 apartments on the top two floors of the iconic 20 storey Rotunda in central Birmingham. As you would expect from Staying Cool, the keyword is style. Each apartment combines contemporary cool with retro 60’s design.
The landmark 1960’s Rotunda – near to the new-look Selfridges – has been lovingly restored over the past four years by developers, Urban Splash. Featuring floor to ceiling glass windows that open, each of the one and two-bedroom apartments on the 19th floor has a different view over the city, while the Penthouse has its own 20th floor open balcony.
Staying Cool guests will exit the lift onto a stylish, circular lobby with an über-cool poured resin floor. Once in the apartment, they will find Portion sofas, Trace and Frog tables commissioned from award-winning Brit team, naughtone, plus Pierre Paulin’s distinctive chairs from the 1960s, the Orange Slice, the Oyster Chair and the Little Tulip. Original photography with a ‘60’s feel will adorn the walls on over-sized canvasses and Lou Rota has been commissioned to produce Staying Cool versions of her PolyMorph chair – an environmentally friendly re-work of the sixties polypropylene classic.
“We have been genuinely impressed by Staying Cool’s operation at Urban Splash apartments in Manchester. We both share a passion for great design and top quality service so it makes perfect sense for us to work together at The Rotunda in Birmingham,” said Nathan Cornish, managing director, Urban Splash Midlands.
Staying Cool has 14 apartments in Manchester (including the city’s five-star serviced apartments) and one in Barcelona. “We used to work away from home a fair bit and thought there had to be a better alternative to a boutique hotel (great design, but small rooms and a hefty bill) and a serviced apartment (cheaper and more spacious but badly and blandly furnished), so we came up with the concept of Staying Cool: individual apartments for the more independently-minded,” says director, Tracey Stephenson, who looks after marketing and operations.
“Our approach is to distinguish ourselves from the mass-market and the run-of-the-mill. We are fussy about the choice of development, the interior design, the brand of coffee....everything is picked with care and attention to detail. Unlike other serviced apartment companies and most hotels, we really go to town creating a stylish and comfy home-from-home for our guests,” said creative director, Paul Taylor. “We mix design classics, specially commissioned pieces and recycled or refurbished furniture; there is always an element of individuality in each of our apartments that we hope makes us stand out from the crowd.”
As well as style, the emphasis is very much on comfort and technology: Egyptian cotton sheets and robes, as well as the best pocket-sprung mattresses with memory foam – they go by the name the Ultimate and guests know why in the morning. Apartments are kitted out with the most up-to-date technology and gadgets including free wifi, Apple computers, iPod docks and espresso makers. Guests can order a range of organic and locally sourced breakfasts, champagne, other drinks and snacks.
The Rotunda first opened as an office block in 1964; it was the crowning glory of the trendy new Bull Ring shopping centre. Designed by architect Jim Roberts, the round tower captured the future-looking age of 1960’s cool. During four decades of changing perceptions of post-war urban design, the future quickly became the past and public affection turned its back on much of the modern city. Not so the Rotunda, neglected but not forgotten, it has retained a place in Birmingham’s heart and thanks to Urban Splash, has now been restored and revamped for the 21st century.
The Rotunda is Staying Cool’s second venture with multi-award winning developers, Urban Splash. The two companies have been working together in Manchester over the past two years to provide individual serviced apartments in each of Urban Splash’s Castlefield developments. Urban Splash design with Staying Cool style.
Staying Cool apartments cost from £115 to £375 per night. Discounted rates apply for longer stays. For more information visit www.stayingcool.com, or call 0161 832 4060. Bookings for Birmingham will begin on 31 March with the launch of a new Staying Cool website.
+ Permalink