Welcome Change Having orchestrated the design of hotels across the UK and Europe for the past two decades, Ica is planning for its next phase of growth. Words: Ben Thomas
A Holistic Approach Established in 2003, Ica is a 50-strong architecture and interior design studio dedicated to the international hotel market. With offices in Glasgow and London, the practice works across the UK, Europe and beyond, focusing on design, technical expertise and business acumen. Hotels in the pipeline: The Gantry, London (2021); Moxy Spinningfields, Manchester (2021); Virgin Hotels, Edinburgh (2022); CitizenM Victoria, London (2022); Marriott Tribute Portfolio, Edinburgh (2024)
W
e started the business with three of us and now
approach however is that we understand our client’s
there are more than 50, so a lot of things have
requirements first, then analyse the site, design to their
changed in the process,” says Ian Burleigh,
specific requirements and contextualise those. What we
Executive Chairman of Ica, as he looks back on the
achieve is a functional, efficient and workable solution
studio’s journey in the world of hotel design so far.
that’s fit for purpose but also responds to its location.”
“It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work to create a team of people that share our values and skills.”
THE INITIAL FOCUS
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With the financial crisis of 2007–2008, Ica saw a surprising upturn in business. The reason? Clients
Launched shortly after the turn of the millennium
were moving away from large-scale developments and
with a studio in Glasgow and a client space in London,
instead focusing on cost-effective refurbishments. This
Ica started life as an architecture and interior design
led to the growth of its interior design team, creating a
practice solely dedicated to the international hotel
single studio that enabled its architects and designers
market. From the outset, the firm focused on designing
to collaborate and cross-pollinate ideas.
not only buildings and interiors but also businesses, specialising in how they operate as well as aesthetics.
This inside-out, outside-in methodology has since allowed the practice to deliver either the entire vision
“What made us popular was that we gelled quickly
or work with existing partners to bring a project to life
with clients and from a personality point of view we
with its architectural expertise. Equally, Ica’s interior
were easy to get on with, listened to what they wanted
designers can join forces with external architecture
to achieve and tried to use the design tools we had in
firms but draw on decades of experience that comes
our box to assist them,” Burleigh continues. “It’s about
from the synergy between its in-house teams.
having your finger on the pulse within a market.”
Click here to find out more on Ica’s approach
A TURNING POINT
Such was the case at The Gantry in Stratford, a
Part of Ica’s approach also involved being well
visually remarkable yet equally buildable development
prepared and getting things right early in the process,
in London’s Olympic Park. Opening in November 2021,
meaning the team wasn’t reliant on fixing problems
the dual-branded project comprises an 18-storey Curio
down the line when on site. As such, the studio was able
Collection by Hilton hotel with 291 guestrooms, an
to apply its holistic ethos to different cities with ease,
artisan food market and a rooftop bar, as well as a
resulting in the expansion of its portfolio across the
17-storey Adagio Aparthotel. In designing the structure,
UK to the likes of Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Ica drew inspiration from New York’s Flatiron building
“A lot of architecture responds to context first;
and Stratford’s industrial past in equal measure,
the location, the adjacent buildings and their style.
reflecting the heritage of the area through every element
It is designed to those criteria and then the client’s
of design, materiality and function. A curved two-storey
requirements have to fit into that,” explains co-founder
podium, formed by an interplay with the geometry of the
and Design Director Chris Fegan. “A fundamental of our
hotel tower above, achieves a singular building aesthetic
