The curvy landmark to the east of the City will reopen as a hotel.
This is Ibex House, a Grade II-listed office block on Minories, just north of the Tower of London.
The words “office block” and “gorgeous” do not normally co-habit the same sentence, but we can make exceptions for the art deco blocks of the early 20th century. This one was completed in 1937 as purpose-built offices, as this advert from the time attests.
The building is an example of the Streamline Moderne flavour of art deco, most famously worn by the Daily Express building on Fleet Street. At the time of construction, Ibex House had the longest bands of glass in the UK.
All that will be welcomed by visitors to the hotel now set to occupy the building, after plans were approved by the City of London council. Developer Dominus, in partnership with Cheyne Capital, will convert the sleek landmark into a “382-key full-service hotel”, due to open in 2028.
I love this building. Will the developers ruin it?
The developers say they will retain “100% of the substructure and 90% of the superstructure” (that is, all of the innards, and almost all of the exterior). The biggest changes, outlined in a presentation here, include replacement of many of the windows (much had already been double-glazed in previous refurbs), and the addition of a couple of new floors on top. The latter appears to be sympathetic to the original building, and should be largely invisible from street level.
The development will allow public access to the building for the first time in its history. Along with the usual facilities of a swanky hotel, the works will also rebuild and reopen the Peacock pub, which has been closed since 2017. You’ll also be able to pop inside for a cuppa in a corner cafe which, in the mock-up at least, features an exhibition about art deco London. Meanwhile, a ‘hospitality academy’ will train up the next generation of hoteliers.
Ibex House is not the only landmark undergoing transformation in this way. The BT Tower, 55 Broadway and Admiralty Arch are all set to reopen as hotels at some point.
