Ember Locke is lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke’s thirteenth property across the UK and Europe and its sixth in London. Designed by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré – and located in Kensington nearby such cultural hotspots as the V&A and the Design Museum – the eight-storey building houses 121 apartments that range from studios to one-bedroom duplexes. Communal amenities include a café-bar-restaurant, co-working space, meeting room, large garden and gym. The nostalgic ‘casual bohemian vibe’ was inspired by the area, particularly the now-shuttered Kensington Roof Gardens – a 6,000 sq-m greenscape atop former Art Deco department store Derry & Toms – and the ‘laissez-faire flamboyance’ of Biba, a fashion brand born in Kensington’s bohemian scene that moved into the Derry & Toms building for a brief period following the latter’s closure. Conceived as ‘boudoirs’, the apartment interiors marry rich, colourful interiors with Art Deco nuances, while the eclectic communal spaces feature bright fabrics and crafted furniture against a backdrop of character features. Responding to Atelier Ochre’s interior palette, House of Dré created bespoke art pieces for the guestrooms and public spaces, while the work of burgeoning local artists will be displayed throughout the property.