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 guests to feel welcome and connected to the rhythm of Shoreditch, while still offering moments of calm," said Engroba.

"The colour palette draws from the Japanese Shin-Bijutsukai movement, using natural materials, planting and filtered light to soften the architecture without diminishing its character."

Aethos London Shoreditch fuses East London's industrial design language with "the craftsmanship of Japanese design traditions"

Contemporary, low-height seating was used throughout the space, while a series of large, textured rugs zone the space to create areas of relaxation.

Vintage decorative pieces and furniture were used intentionally throughout the lobby alongside works by local artists and designers to connect the interior to its east London roots.

Astet Studio brings warmth and tactility to the industrial spaces by using bespoke wood panelling across the lobby area, breakfast rooms and bedrooms.

The timber detailing across the interiors of Aethos draws inspiration from traditional Japanese carpentry

"The palette combines hand-finished timber, textured ceramics, woven fabrics and predominantly matte finishes," Engroba explained.

"By favouring materials that absorb rather than reflect light, the interiors develop subtle changes throughout the day, giving the spaces a quieter, more tactile quality."

Astet Studio designed the bedrooms to have a more refined and pared-back colour palette

In the bedrooms, the studio shifted the material palette to be simpler and more refined, featuring muted tones of grey, burnt orange, and blackened wood.

"In the bedrooms, the focus moves towards comfort, tactility and a quieter sensory experience," said Engroba. "Materials become softer, lighting more controlled and the overall atmosphere more intimate, creating a retreat within the city."

Aethos London Shoreditch features 164 hotel rooms plus a restaurant and private members bar

Other Japanese-style interiors recently featured on Dezeen include Mitsu restaurant in London and Genso restaurant by Joyce Wang Studio in Tokyo.

The photography is Pion Studio.

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