Friday, February 7, 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025
HomeDesignDESIGN FOCUS: NATIVE GLASGOW AT THE ANCHOR LINE 

DESIGN FOCUS: NATIVE GLASGOW AT THE ANCHOR LINE 

12 ST VINCENT PLACE, GLASGOW

Native Glasgow is located in the former headquarters of the Anchor Line Shipping Company at 12 St Vincent Place. Native is operating the aparthotel on behalf of building owners, the White Building Properties Company which is owned by Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, who also own DRG. They spent in the region of £8m transforming this Edwardian Art Deco building from offices into an apar thotel, offering 64 apartments ranging from studios to penthouse spaces.

Interior architects ICA were responsible for coming up with designs that embrace modern living and which also preserve the building’s heritage.

Guy Nixon, CEO of Native said, “We have worked in close partnership with building owners, the White Building Properties Company, to mirror the design ethos and opulence of a 1920s ocean liner. Native Glasgow feels like an exciting milestone in our plans to expand our aparthotel business across all major UK cities.”

Lesley Annison, Senior Interior Designer at ICA commented, “The Native aparthotel has been inspired by the shipping history of the building. The rooms themselves are reflective of the traveller of these ships. They have been on their cruise to far off shores and returned with an eclectic mix of furniture, artwork and accessories.”

There are plenty of original features which have restored beautifully. From the marble-walled entranceway to its terrazzo stairs, timber wall panelling and fabulous carved fireplaces. Two genuine safes have been maintained within the building – one has been welded shut and is just for decorative purposes but the other has been made into a wardrobe.

Even the corridors feel like corridors from grand liners – the cream and pale green carpet has seashells used in the design, while the lamps throughout the hotel all feature brass – the bedside lamps are all brass, while the feature lamps have brass bases. The attention to detail is such that all the light switches have a brass finish too.

The new-build 7th floor features penthouse rooms which are light and airy and which have fabulous views over the city, which can be enjoyed from the outside terraces which they have. These rooms have very light grey walls and navy sofas. The beds, all of which feature Hypnos mattresses, have tan leather headboards, and the bespoke cased goods are dark ash in colour. The curtains tone in beautifully – matching the headboard and other soft furnishings perfectly.

The small occasional chairs are a lively mustard colour with brass legs and all the occasional tables are black.

The darker rooms have been painted in a navy colour and the sofa’s in these rooms are all light coloured. It’s the perfect contrast and there is a uniformity of colour throughout. There is also a uniformity when it comes to the type of artwork on the walls – it all relates to the Anchor Line Shipping Company and reminds guests of the great voyages of old.

The larger premium rooms feature large corner sofa’s, while the smaller rooms have two-seaters.

Every single room has a well-fitted luxury kitchen with all the mod cons, from combi-ovens to dishwashers. The larger suites also have a washer/dryer.

General Manager Gary White explains, “The larger suites have washer/dryers and we supply all the detergents, but the studio’s don’t. Instead, we have a utility room where guests can wash their clothes, and we provide everything from the detergents to the clothes horse.”

Now we come to the bathrooms. What is there not to like. Apart from the fact that they are huge – they are all beautifully finished. The showers have been tiled in the colours that Glasgow tenements had in their close. Each shower wall has been tiled cream, dark red, dark green or dark blue. A lovely touch and a nice back story.

The décor in each room also encapsulates memorabilia which travellers might have brought back. Says Gary, “There is a lot of shelf space in the rooms with dookit’s and we will be adding the sort of souvenirs that travellers in these days might have brought back. For instance, in the apartments which have the New York artwork, there will be small statues of liberty, while the room with the Caribbean artwork might feature a pineapple! We are in the process of adding this memorabilia.”

Guests can stay at the Native Glasgow for one night or for months. Says Gary, “This is not serviced apartments. We will check you in, and take you to your room, then once you are there you can live how you want to – we don’t dictate breakfast times or dinner times. However, should our guests want to dine with us they can – our lift takes them directly down to The Atlantic Bar and Grill. While Anchor Line is just next door.”

Guests certainly seem to have the best of both worlds at Native Glasgow at The Anchor Line. I am sure they will be sailing in.

 

BY SUSAN YOUNG

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