Clara Finnigan

Boutique hotel brand Aethos has opened its first London outpost with interiors designed by Astet Studio in a Ron Arad Associates building that was formerly home to Nobu Hotel Shoreditch. Created by Astet Studio, the interiors of Aethos London Shoreditch were designed to blend the industrial design language of the original building with a softer Japanese-inspired material palette. Astet Studio used earthy tones to introduced warmth into the industrial setting "When we first approached the project, we saw an opportunity to explore what we call East meets East," Astet Studio co-founder Oscar Engroba told Dezeen. "Rather than recreating Shoreditch's industrial past, we wanted to bring its existing character into conversation with the precision and craftsmanship of Japanese design traditions." Textured fabrics were used to absorb rather than reflect light in the breakfast room The Barcelona-based interiors studio was inspired by the Japanese concept of Utsuroi for the project, explaining to Dezeen that its employment meant "the architecture stays constant while the experience quietly evolves". Astet Studio used the Japanese concept of Utsuroi to evolve the hotel's lobby, bar, gym, members' lounge and Mitsu restaurant. The 164-room hotel, originally built in 2017, is defined by its striking industrial facade, featuring cantilevered balconies framed in glass, steel, and concrete. Aethos London Shoreditch is housed in a building designed by Ron Arad Associates Guests enter through this layered concrete facade into an open lobby  characterised by earthy browns and muted natural tones, which was designed to introduce warmth into the industrial setting. "We wanted