a place to call home The Other House South Kensington

| BY FELICITY WILLIAMS

SouthKensington is home to a pioneering hospitality concept, and it’s in the form of The Other House. This model is shaped through a residential lens offering apartment-style living, club facilities, and hotel services instead of the traditional hotel approach. It’s a luxurious home away from home—a pied-à-terre-meets-private club-meets-lifestyle brand, with no membership required. What’s more, it’s the first of this type of accommodation available in the UK.

Established in 2019, The Other House is a joint venture partnership between London Central Portfolio (LCP), a leading real estate investment advisory in Prime Central London, and APG, the largest pension provider in the Netherlands, which manages approximately €587 billion in pension assets on behalf of its pension fund clients. Three years later, the South Kensington site opened its doors, with a Covent Garden outpost set to open late next year.

As Founder and Chief Executive of The Other House, Naomi Heaton is at the helm of this lifestyle hospitality brand, which has seen her wealth of experience within the residential sector (she is also Chairman of the LCP Group, which she founded in 1990) harmoniously merge with her entrepreneurial vision and foresight (especially when it comes to the needs and wants of the millennial traveler); it’s a cool club you’ll want to be a part of, and Heaton offers her insight.

Tell us about your background in the hospitality industry. I didn’t make my start in hospitality, although the concept of The Other House, which was more than ten years in the making, is very much shaped by my career and identifying a gap in the market. After building my career as a director of the well-known agency Saatchi & Saatchi, I thought I was destined for a life in advertising. Little did I know that buying my first home in London’s Camden Town would later transform into not one but two successful businesses.

With a passion for interior design, I started my own business buying, renovating, and selling properties in central London, which led to the founding of London Central Portfolio (LCP). One of London’s leading real estate investment companies, it advises overseas buyers and manages an extensive portfolio of properties on their behalf. At LCP, I observed the rapidly changing lifestyle of millennial tenants looking for smaller apartments with more aspirational interiors and services on demand in the very center of London—wanting to be “where it’s at.” At the other end of the spectrum, I could see hotel guests looking for a greater sense of place and wanting to feel like a local. I spotted the opportunity to mash this all together and rethink the hospitality sector—whatever the length of stay. That’s when I created The Other House.

What is the hotel’s USP, and what does it bring to Kensington?

South Kensington is a wonderful neighborhood filled with stunning Victorian architecture and cultural landmarks. However, it has nothing quite like The Other House. In fact, London hasn’t seen anything like it before because we have created an entirely new sector within hospitality—”Residents Clubs.” Residents Clubs blur the lines between hotels, serviced apartments, and private rentals, acting as a second home for residents whatever their length of stay, whether it is a day, a month, a year, or more. Think hotel meets private members’ club—providing a new sense of place, ownership, and engagement with spaces that create amazing experiences.

Whether it’s acting as a private club for locals, a pied à terre for out-oftowners, a long-term base, or a neighborhood haunt—The Other House brings something completely unique for South Kensington—with openings in Covent Garden and Belgravia in the pipeline.

Tell us about its architecture and design.

The inspiration for the interiors was derived from the local culture of South Kensington—a unique area brimming with art, design, and tradition. The spirit of whimsy and English eccentricity was the starting point for the design—guided by beguiling gardens, interesting architecture, and the language of arches of the nearby Gloucester Road tube station. This narrative is echoed throughout the entire building, connecting spaces, and leading residents from one experience to the next. We wanted to create a voyage of discovery, a world that is fantastical and flamboyant, rich and textured, but also relaxing and comforting in equal measure. All brought to life by the very best of British craftsmanship.

How would you define the guest experience?

We offer our residents the luxury of choice—be as visible or invisible as you like—have the services and amenities of a more traditional hotel stay or be completely independent and self-sufficient in your own Club Flat.

We believe that our residents and members are people who share our values. People who aspire to make a difference, care about making a positive environmental and social impact, and search out and value new and varied experiences. We cater to this by providing aspirational interiors that are both beautiful and sustainable, stimulating members’ events that align with our values, superb club facilities, and locations that are second to none. Our residents are all on different journeys but know where they want to be.

The Other House offers all the comforts of home and a great neighborhood vibe, so our residents can live like locals. It is your “other house” as long as you’re in town.

What are your favorite aspects of your Residents Club?

It’s fascinating to see something that you have conceptualized and worked on for nearly a decade finally come to life. From the moment we opened our doors, The Other House took on a personality and energy of its own, that instantly you could see people respond to. We have said from the offing that we will be sustainable, offer exceptional experiences, have a positive impact, and let our residents be in control. We’ve done it, and people “get it”—so I suppose I love all of it in its entirety—that we have been able to create something spectacular while holding true to our values. It is extraordinarily exciting to have created a new way of staying which will lead the market.

Who does The Other House cater to?

The Other House caters to a very diverse crowd, given our unique model. We have the countr yside commuters using us as their pied à terre in the midweek, guests from the UK and abroad who are staying with us for a few nights and looking for a really cool and different place to stay, local members who are drawn to the community and amenities of our private club, and long-term residents who are staying with us for up to a year or more. We cater to all these audiences in an environment that feels convivial, comfortable, and inclusive.

Which is your favorite room (guest/suite) and why?

That is like asking a mother, “Who is your favorite child?” I think the Turret Club Flats are particularly special. Flanked at either end of our “block,” both have gorgeous Victorian “porthole” windows, vaulted ceilings, and are wrapped in a whimsical wallpaper of clouds and swallows to match the rooftop views across London. It makes for an incredibly comfortable and very special stay in central London.

What can you recommend in the local vicinity?

As London’s arts and science district, the choices here are endless, but for me, it has to be the Victoria and Albert Museum. With a keen interest in interior design, I love nothing more than wandering through the unfolding displays of Domestic Interiors since the Renaissance to fuel my inspiration. It’s a powerhouse of exciting exhibitions, from Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses.

Location

Situated on Harrington Gardens in South Kensington, the property comprises 11 classic Victorian townhouses. London’s most famous landmarks and institutions are conveniently just a stone’s throw away, including the V&A, Natural History Museum, Kensington Gardens, and Hyde Park.

Accommodation

The concept of The Other House is an innovative one, blurring the lines between hotels, serviced apartments, and the private rented sector to create “Residents’ Clubs” whereby residents can stay from a night to a year (or more and enjoy apartment-style living, access to hotel services, and a private club.

Expect a whole host of accommodation types to suit various needs, the number of guests, and the length of stay. Split into four main categories: Club Flats, Greater Flats, The Club Collection, and Club Combos; no matter the type, each one dons a living space with all the creature comforts, kitchenette, separate bedroom area, and en-suite bathroom. Each category has several configurations and sizes to choose from so guests can tailor their stay. For something extra special, look to the one-of-a-kind Club Collection, such as the Courtyard Apartments with a private garden, or the Club Combos comprised of interconnecting Club Flats—ideal for larger parties or families, plus they all come with an exclusive master front door, for security and peace of mind.

F&B

The Other Kitchen, which is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm, is the property’s all-day street café, with an informal dining menu for breakfast, lunch, and tea (think eggs royale, truffle pesto, vegan toasties, pulled pork sliders, confit carrot & cashew dukkah). And for after hours, head to The Owl & Monkey, just next door, for a sultry bar with style aplenty. Here, expect a subtly lit bar combined with signature exotic wallcoverings (with owl and monkey wallpaper), animal-print fabrics, ornate lighting, and green marble flooring for a textural delight. Partake in a cocktail such as the signature Monkey See, Monkey Do, or a non-alcoholic cocktail, cue the French Kiss 00, and the shared plates.

Wellness

The Other Space is an oasis in the city—a wellness retreat dedicated to relaxation and discovering the “Other” side of yourself. As such, there’s a range of curated spiritual, alternative, and holistic treatments to rebalance and restore the body and mind. The menu includes astrology workshops, shamanic healing, chakra cleansing, reiki, and breathwork sessions. It’s also home to the first and only wellness experience purely dedicated to sound bath meditations—OM— offered exclusively at The Other House, South Kensington. Led by sound artist Leo Cosendai, he offers an immersive sensory experience to inspire the mind, and it’s thought that a 55-minute session is the equivalent of 8 hours’ worth of meditation. Using the UK’s largest gongs to create acoustic sound vibrations along with scent stimulation, it requires no physical fitness, ability, or previous knowledge. It’s also available privately and regularly, with each session designed for up to four people.

This offering sits alongside a 24-hour gym complete with hi-tech equipment from Peloton bikes to the Concept 2 Rower, free weights, and a heavy boxing bag. In addition, there is a vitality pool, sauna and steam room, and private yoga studio with in-person and on-demand drop-in classes.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of The Other House, from construction to design and operations - aiming to achieve the BREEAM “Excellent” category; cue low environmental impact materials and verified environmentally friendly and local suppliers. Then there’s the considered décor, with furniture, fittings and fabrics sourced from British design houses, and low-waste kitchens, to name a few highlights. 

The Other House, 15 17 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London, SW7 4JJ

Telephone: 020 3846 6000

Website: otherhouse.com

Goddess Mirror by KOKET

More than 200 brass hands spiral around a circular mirror, each individually crafted by KOKET artisans, then painstakingly polished one by one, resulting in a masterful piece of interior jewelry.

Molino Barstool, Velvet by Soho Home Showcasing all the classic features for a barstool – a hardwood beech frame, velvet seat and curved, yet slightly angled, wooden arms, Molino Barstool creates a chic seat at any counter.