The first Generator is located in Russell Square at walking distance from Covent Garden, Regent’s Park and the British Museum, just some of the places you can explore if you don’t have enough to do with the endless list of events, art collaborations and gigs on offer in-house.
Originally a police section house, Generator London has been restyled and refurbished in 2013. Anwar Mekhayech from DesignAgency (Toronto, Canada) worked on the space in partnership with ORBIT Architects and his concept builds upon the notion of the “City as an Event”, where layers of history, styles and designs are uncovered and collected within one building or space. The idea includes the inherently eclectic cultural, architectural, stylistic, and historical mash-up that makes London what it is. The design stirs up and connects spaces with a modern industrial feel, but privileges different areas with their own distinct look and concept based on program and usage.
Each floor has been named after a popular fictional English character and so Austin Powers, Dr Who, James Bond, Mary Poppins, Ali G, Willy Wonka and Alice in Wonderland adorn the walls adding hints of tradition with a twist. The chill-out area offers plenty of tiered lounge seating, a screening area and game tables that provide a relaxed social experience. The café is the place to try some of the tasty dishes on the all day menu, from healthy salads to burgers, cakes and plates to share. The space allows flexible seating arrangements. Guests can gather in a group or solo, sitting on comfortable leather armchairs, sharing a communal high table or unwinding in the plaid room, whose floors and walls are covered in warm navy blue and grey tartan print. The bar is ideal for a game of pool, some drinks and a bit of dancing. Design details include the DJ booth, set inside a replica Routemaster London bus, and recycled fire extinguisher lights created by Castor.
The general feel is industrial and modern with strokes of energy, function and affordability combined with designer furniture by Moooi, Moroso or Tom Dixon. The local element is very present in the use of reclaimed timbers, exposed brick and hot-rolled black steel. Moreover, interior art installations and graphics have been executed by Shoreditch based art collective Acrylicize in collaboration with the Design Agency. Good Wives and Warriors (goodwivesandwarriors.co.uk) have created the customised Generator piano in the café and Jenni Sparks (jennisparks.com) is the mind behind the hand drawn map of London map that decorates the Travel shop.
Address: Off 37 Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury, WC1H 9SE
Tel: +44 207 388 7666 Email: London@generatorhostels.com
Number of beds: 868
Prices: Dorm beds from £12 per person. Private rooms from £24.50 per person
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