IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RANGE ROVER
Range Rover at The Merrion set a new standard in design leadership …
Two of the city’s most desirable destinations in the heart of Dublin’s Georgian Quarter – the award-winning hotel The Merrion and two-star Michelin restaurant Chapter One – were the fitting backdrop for a special experience recently. This was a collaboration that focused on comfort and luxury, with guests given insider access to the world of Range Rover: a front row seat from which we could learn, unwind and indulge.
Our journey began at The Merrion, a five-star masterpiece comprised of four meticulously restored 18th-century Georgian townhouses, filled with Ireland’s most impressive art collection. As part of the Range Rover experience, guests were checked in to one of the Main House’s Grade I Listed rooms, each an oasis of calm and pristine attention to detail, mirroring the serene environment of Range Rover’s own design philosophy.
An insightful discussion between acclaimed London interior designer Ben Johnson, co-founder of Albion Nord, and Dublin gallerist and mid-century furniture expert, Killian McNulty, was a masterclass in modern luxury. Ben’s approach to design is informed by his architectural background, but his work is driven by the creation of rooms that feel warm, welcoming and full of character. Ben has a particular passion for joinery design, craftsmanship and detailing. He believes that the most successful interiors are those where simplicity and restraint allow materials, texture and carefully considered details to take centre stage.
Ben enjoys thinking about projects conceptually, often developing a narrative that helps guide the design process. This sense of storytelling brings personality and playfulness to the spaces Albion Nord creates, while always ensuring that the concept enhances the design rather than dominating.
A residential project by Ben Johnson.
Ben shared insights into creating spaces that balance tradition with modernity, and the importance of narrative, materiality and detail in shaping timeless environments. He revealed the high level of personalisation, luxury and modern technology expected of interior design projects at a certain level, echoing the design values that Range Rover delivers (guests were given an opportunity to discover the desirable Range Rover SV in Satin Sunrise Copper, the ultimate expression of luxury). When asked about his first trip to Dublin, Johnson commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be in Dublin with Range Rover as it has always been a world class brand I have admired. Range Rover at The Merrion mirrors how I approach my work, by championing a design-led perspective rooted in authenticity and heritage.”
The interior of the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond luxury train, by Ben Johnson.
Personalised design was also a notable theme in one of Ben’s featured projects, a series of private luxury townhouses at Chelsea Barracks. He described how these beautiful living and entertaining spaces were designed to be unique, with bespoke pieces and custom finishes. He gave an eye-opening account of conserving the historic details at The Chancery Rosewood in Mayfair, the former US Embassy in London, and related anecdotes about the process of delivering the deeply considered interior design scheme for The Britannic Explorer. With space at a premium in a luxury train, it’s the ultimate driver of innovation, Johnson explained, “much like it is in Range Rover design, which is the pinnacle of luxury craftsmanship.” A blend of authenticity, heritage and design, whether in interiors, architecture or automotive design is like haute couture, he said: “With an almost limitless range of colours, materials and finishes, there’s endless scope for creativity and innovation.”
A luxury townhouse at Chelsea Barracks by Ben Johnson.
The evening unfolded with a short and smooth journey in splendid Range Rover luxury to Chapter One by Mickael Viljanen, the two-Michelin-star destination located in another of the city’s Georgian houses, home also to the Dublin Writers Museum. Chapter One’s stylish interior is the perfect place to immerse oneself in the creativity of world-class cuisine. Mickael Viljanen’s passion for luxury ingredients – like Donegal lobster and Wicklow Sika deer – and imaginative cooking, executed with skill and modern flair, culminated in a series of standout dishes, carefully choreographed, balancing inventiveness, intensity and elegance, and executed with razor-sharp perfection, with guided wine pairings to complement. The evening concluded with Chapter One’s famous Irish Coffee, prepared tableside, before a chauffeur-driven Range Rover glide back to The Merrion. This immersive, sensory experience was the definitive expression of the Range Rover lifestyle: modern, beautifully designed, undeniably luxurious, with design and craftsmanship at the heart. Each element of the evening perfectly reflected Range Rover’s own design philosophy – where modern luxury is defined by quality, attention to detail and enduring appeal.
For more than half a century Range Rover has pioneered groundbreaking innovation and peerless design, alongside unparalleled all-terrain capability. The original luxury SUV has defined the market since 1970 and, more than five decades on, the Range Rover has evolved to become a family of desirable and capable luxury vehicles. Its compelling blend of design, refinement and engineering innovation has ensured its place as the benchmark for all luxury SUVs. Every Range Rover is available as an Electric Hybrid, with the first fully electric Range Rover due to be revealed later this year.
