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The Connaught will unveil a “one-of-a-kind” suite – The King’s Lodge – this month in collaboration with Guy Oliver, the hotel’s legacy interior designer, and Turquoise Mountain, a charity supporting artisans across the Levant, Afghanistan, Myanmar and India.
Founded in 2006 by HRH King Charles III – then the Prince of Wales – Turquoise Mountain supports artisans by combining crafts practice, training and heritage buildings.
The King’s Lodge is the second collaboration between Oliver, Turquoise Mountain and The Connaught, joining The Prince’s Lodge which opened in 2010.
The Prince’s Lodge was created in a style inspired by the 19th-Century Peacock Palace in the old city of Kabul.
Meanwhile, The King’s Lodge is a singular space, located on the fifth floor of The Connaught, designed to showcase “the highest level of craftsmanship” from the Levant, Afghanistan, Myanmar and India.
Artisans from these regions have been commissioned to create every element of the suite, and include architectural woodwork made in Jordan by Syrian artisans, handwoven carpets and miniature paintings from Afghanistan, fabrics from Myanmar, and carved marble panels and mirrored glass insets from India.
Oliver said: “True luxury has always been made to measure and since it was built, The Connaught has been known as the handmade hotel, constructed by the finest artisan builders and cabinet makers.
“Now, working with Turquoise Mountain, we can support the highest level of craftsmanship in communities at risk around the world. It is a delight and an honour to bring them together to create such a remarkable and unique project.”
Sandeep Bhalla, general manager of The Connaught, added: “It is an honour to once again welcome the master artisans from Turquoise Mountain to The Connaught in their creation of this truly remarkable suite, The King’s Lodge.
“Our strong commitment to design and celebration of art has helped establish The Connaught as one of the world’s most coveted hotels and it gives us great pleasure to reveal The King’s Lodge.”
