Sea Containers London - New Luxury Hotel Suites Reimagine the Romance of Travel

With over 1,500 hotels and 86 more set to open by 2026, London remains one of the world’s most dynamic design capitals - alongside perennial favourites like New York, Tokyo, and Paris. From iconic landmarks to unexpected new gems, the city offers endless ways to experience design, culture, and history.

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A Century of Art Deco: Then, Now, Always

As we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Art Deco this year, Visualista is spotlighting the most compelling interpretations of the style — both historic and contemporary.

One standout example is the newly opened Art Deco Cabin Suite at Sea Containers London — a space that pays tribute to the golden age of travel through elegant, era-inspired design.

Unveiled in April 2025, the standout Art Deco Cabin Suite channels 1930s sophistication with a fresh, contemporary edge. Conceived by Jacu Strauss, Designer and Creative Director of Lore Group, the suite features restored vintage pieces sourced through the curated pre-loved marketplace Vinterior. This thoughtful approach not only adds character and authenticity but also reflects the hotel’s commitment to sustainability by repurposing quality furniture already in circulation.

Jacu Strauss, Designer and Creative Director of Lore Group

Bedroom

The bedroom centres around a striking geometric burl-wood headboard, flanked by Swedish walnut bedside tables. These are topped with chrome and white glass table lamps, combining soft lighting with the polished, industrial edge characteristic of the era. The materials and silhouettes create a quietly decadent atmosphere that echoes the elegance of 1930s transatlantic voyages.

Lounge

In the living area, cork wall panelling is complemented by sculpted geometric shapes that frame the door. These details are echoed in the design of the custom bar. A 1930s sofa and armchair set, reupholstered in contemporary fabric, invites relaxation. Behind it, a textile tapestry with a repeating Art Deco motif anchors the space, celebrating the era’s obsession with pattern and symmetry.

Bathroom

The bathroom continues the narrative with a polished chrome freestanding bathtub and two geometric mirror frames above the sinks. The contrast of clean lines and rich materials speaks to the movement’s balance of form and function.

Four Eras, Four Suites

Alongside the Art Deco Suite, guests can choose from three other time-travel-inspired rooms:

The Edwardian Cabin Suite channels the elegance of early 1900s luxury cruise cabins. An antique mahogany leather-top desk, alongside an antique Edwardian upholstered walnut armchair and a floor lamp with an in-built marble table brings turn-of-the-century refinement to life.

The Mid-Century Cabin Suite reflects the streamlined aesthetics of the 1950s and 60s, complete with Danish powder-blue furniture, wood panelling, and iconic chrome detailing.

The Dynasty Cabin Suite, inspired by the excess of 1980s pop culture and the American TV series of the same name, features a reupholstered leather Maralunga sofa by Vico Magistretti and a dramatic lucite-and-glass coffee table.

Design in the Details: From Phaidon to Bottled Cocktails

Each suite is styled with curated books from Phaidon. Additionally, the hotel’s multi-award-winning bar, Lyaness, has crafted bottled cocktails inspired by the four design eras—available exclusively to guests staying in the new suites.

A Landmark Hotel with a Story

Sea Containers London occupies a striking 1974 building originally designed by American architect Warren Platner. In 2014, it was transformed into a luxury hotel by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, with interiors that evoke the glamour of 1920s transatlantic cruise liners. Among the team behind that transformation was Jacu Strauss, then a senior designer at Dixon’s studio, who led the design of standout spaces such as the iconic Lyaness bar.

Now Creative Director of Lore Group, Strauss is revisiting the hotel with a fresh vision—redesigning its key elements.

Sea Containers London continues to push the boundaries of experiential travel. From the eclectic rooftop bar 12th Knot and the award-winning agua Spa to the in-house Curzon Cinema, the hotel offers a fully immersive stay on London’s South Bank. As part of the international Lore Group, it embodies the brand’s ethos of storytelling through design—brought vividly to life in the new suite collection that pays homage to the golden age of cruising.