In collaboration with Starwood Hotels Internal Design Team, we designed the interiors of Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel, infusing the public spaces and guestrooms with playfulness and intrigue. Designed originally as a concrete office block, the building has been reimagined as a Treehouse Hotel - an escape from the everyday, immersing visitors in a world of adventure and secret hideaways.

Our design is innovative because we had to maximise light and repurpose an existing concrete structure. For example, the ground floor lacked natural light, so we introduced elements to enhance the space’s charm, including reclaimed and bespoke windows, organic cut-out ceiling designs with lighting to create dappled light, coloured glass windows with faux plants to simulate outdoor light, and strategic lighting in the restaurant area with pendants for a diffused light effect.

Our design is functional because we developed a range of bedroom types – from compact rooms to suites – to suit a diverse range of visitors. The presidential suite is designed for hosting, featuring a private kitchen and dining space, and accessible rooms are thoughtfully integrated to accommodate guests with different needs.

The lobby and reception area are functional working spaces, fostering productivity for guests – and panoramic views can be enjoyed throughout the property, creating an enriching environment. Additionally, Treehouse is Manchester’s first hotel to feature a living green wall, and it also includes a rooftop apiary, producing honey exclusively for the hotel, making it a truly sustainable and community-focused space.

Our design is creative because it was inspired by the ethos of Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, who wanted the hotel to feel "like a kid has made it". We embraced a playful perspective in the design, infusing the space with a sense of whimsy and discovery. As guests enter, they are welcomed by a towering tree clad in real bark. The lobby walls are constructed from an assortment of windows, evoking the spontaneous spirit of a child’s treehouse, while inviting in natural light.

This playful originality extends into the 224 guest rooms, where patchwork quilts, asymmetrical door handles, handmade furniture, and a medley of fabrics evoke the comforting nostalgia of a childhood retreat. Chalkboards and personalised wooden carvings in the lift lobby invite guests to contribute, reinforcing the hotel’s interactive spirit.

Our design has an eco-social impact because we prioritise recycling, rebuilding and craftsmanship. Throughout, reclaimed materials and vintage pieces are thoughtfully integrated. Cork flooring in guest rooms offers both aesthetic appeal and eco-friendly benefits, as it is renewable and helps reduce waste. Reclaimed timber flooring in the lobby and on the mezzanine creates a tactile, inviting space, while slabwood – waste offcuts from the forestry industry – adds warmth and texture, transforming what would have been discarded into beautiful design elements.