Wembley ARK Co-Living

New co-living brand ARK has unveiled plans for its debut community-centric rental concept in London where you can stay, work and play – all under one roof.

Opening in Wembley Park this September and introducing a truly flexible serviced model where guests can stay from two nights up to one year, the interiors of the 300-bedroom former hotel have been reimagined and reconfigured into a new urban retreat by ARK, in collaboration with acclaimed London design studio Holloway Li.

As an alternative to the typically material-intensive approach to retrofitting, Holloway Li has taken a low impact approach to the building’s design, retaining or modifying elements from the existing space to minimise waste.

Providing financial certainty through one fixed all-inclusive bill

Taking the stress out of staying and living in London and freeing your time to focus on doing the things you love, ARK offers one fixed all-inclusive bill to provide financial certainty in the face of the rising cost of living.

For any length of stay, this bill covers: a private ensuite studio; property taxes; 24/7 gym and unlimited co-working space access; superfast WiFi; all utilities; round-the-clock concierge; a daily programme of cultural events from cocktail making to pottery classes; and professional cleaning and linen changes.

Thoughtfully designed private studios
A quiet retreat from the pressures of city life, ARK’s private studios – which can be booked on its website from today – provide thoughtfully designed spaces to lounge, cook, host or simply call home.

All private studios come fully furnished and include an ensuite, clever storage, a bespoke table and corner sofa, a kitchenette with a hob, microwave oven and dishwasher, a 49-inch UHD Samsung TV, comfy double bed, air conditioning, and floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the inviting living spaces with light. A subtle colour palette of sage, sand and taro creates a warm, comforting interior, while remaining neutral enough for guests to make their spaces their own.

World-class communal spaces
Setting a new benchmark for serviced living accommodation in London, Wembley ARK’s guests can connect with their neighbours through a series of design-led contemporary indoor and outdoor amenity spaces in the building.

Holloway Li co-founders Alex Holloway and Na Li identified the public spaces of Wembley ARK as an opportunity to respond to the blending of traditional typologies in the post-Covid era. Leveraging experience in both the hospitality and private residential sectors for brands including The Hoxton and Locke, the studio has imagined the common areas as the rooms of a ‘very large house’.

Spanning multiple levels, shared spaces include a top floor, high specification communal kitchen – which is in addition to guests’ private in-room kitchenettes – and dining area, lounge, multimedia room, Peloton spin studio, laundry room, yoga and wellbeing space, and state-of-the-art gym. Co-working spaces, private meeting rooms and booths are also available to offer quiet zones for concentration, to meet the everyday needs and privacy of hybrid working.

A 3,500 sq ft landscaped open air rooftop terrace with panoramic views of central London – featuring a secluded hidden seating area and viewing steps – will host BBQs, music events, wellness activities and become a sociable hub for guests to enjoy 360-degree vistas of the capital. Wembley ARK’s rooftop is also the building’s ‘back garden’, and is surrounded by allotment beds which guests can use for growing vegetables – a further response to a pandemic trend.

Design: Holloway Li
Photography: courtesy of ARK