After a visionary extension and sensitive restoration, the imposing Bethnal Green Town Hall in London’s East End is now open as Town Hall Hotel Apartments.

TOWN HALL HOTEL & APARTMENTS

Patriot Square, London E2 9NF (020 7871 0460)

The new development, comprising 98 hotel rooms and apartments, a restaurant, bar, pool and gym, has been created by entrepreneur and hotelier Peng Loh who enlisted Rare Architects for the restorative work.

The traditional 1930s building with its Edwardian frontage and Neo-Classical fine stone frontage has been restored. Original elements of the building have also be retained, including sculptures commissioned from Henry Poole. Wide marble halls, dramatic staircases, and stunning public rooms have been carefully restored by skilled craftsmen.

Such restoration hasn’t prevented contemporary touches, most notably present in the Town Hall’s extension which is discreetly set back from the frontage. The architects adopted a technique that covers the new outer wall with a metal ’skin’, laser-cut in a pattern inspired by the art-deco metal ornamentation in the building’s original Council Chamber.

The hotel offers a mix of studios, one and two bedroom suites and feature rooms. Each room is individually designed with a mix of original retro furniture and contemporary Scandinavian inspired hand-crafted pieces.

Throughout the hotel in 2010, look out for the introduction of new installations by six artists, as commissioned by local not-for-profit group, Artsadmin.

Be sure to check out the hotel’s restaurant – VIAJANTE – with its sensational taster menu created by head chef Nuno Mendes.

Celebrated Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes has opened Viajante – his new restaurant in the Grade II listed Bethnal Green Town Hall, one of East London’s most historic buildings.

VIAJANTE

Patriot Square (entrance on Cambridge Heath Road), London E2 9NF (020 7871 0461)

Mendes is considered a pioneer in gastronomy, having trained and worked with some of the leading chefs from around the world. His cooking takes inspiration from multiple cultures and merges them into extravagant tasting menus.

For example: charred sea bass and green apple, black olive and crispy ponzu; razor clams, pickled carrots and coconut, enoki mushrooms and dill; smoked aubergine, potato and soymilk, uni and truffle; lamb belly and scallops, nori dust and fennel; baby onions and Gruyere, tapioca and oyster cream.

Designed by Rare Architects, Viajante restaurant, bar, and private dining room resides on the ground floor of the Town Hall.

Viajante is part of the Edwardian and Neo-Classical Town Hall, which has been developed into a hotel and apartments by entrepreneur and hotelier Peng Loh.

We will add news of the hotel when it opens in May 2010.

‘SIT DOWN: Seating for Kids‘ is the V&A Museum of Childhood’s big exhibition of design for kids, exploring the vast array of seating used by children in their everyday lives. The exhibition invites visitors to consider what makes a successful seat.

SIT DOWN: Seating for Kids, 6th February – 5th September 2010

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA (020 8983 5200)

SIT DOWN delves into the world of children’s seating with classic and more unusual examples. After centuries of traditional seating forms following accepted design conventions, the 20th Century witnessed an explosion of creative solutions to the idea of seating, including those for children.

The exploration of new forms, materials, and production methods, as well as technological developments, resulted in more colourful and innovative seating designs for children.

The exhibition uses the term ’seating’ in its broadest sense, encompassing a wide range of functional and playful objects designed to be used primarily for sitting upon. This includes chairs, benches, sofas, bean bags, ride-on toys, potties, highchairs, and play equipment.

The exhibition asks visitors to consider: What is a seat? Who is a seat for? How is a seat made? When is a seat not just for sitting on? Is it comfortable? Is it stylish? Is it easy to use?

Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favourite chair. Furniture designers should sit up – they could learn a lot from the brutal honesty of the young demographic visiting this show.

Parents take note: on Saturday 6th February, they will be staging a Musical Chairs Marathon. Furthermore, there are plenty of February half-term activities (15th-19th February) to keep your kids occupied.

Images – from top (courtesy of V&A Images unless otherwise stated): Eames Elephant by Charles & Ray Eames (image courtesy of Vitra); Wire Mesh Chair by Harry Bertoia; bObles by Bolette and Louise Blaedel; Booster seat from Cosco, USA; Spotty by Peter Murdoch; Polyprop chair by Robin Day.