Bringing a sense of majesty to the heritage crafts of Afghanistan is a skill of NGO Turquoise Mountain, who also work in the revival of crafts of Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Levant and India. Founded in 2006 by His Majesty King Charles III, the organisation has built over fifty small businesses in these areas of the world.
Inevitably, one of the most important elements of Turquoise Mountain’s undertaking is to connect artisans across the world with relevant markets and ensure that the products are treated with the high regard that they deserve. No Turquoise Mountain project exemplifies this more than The King’s Lodge at the Connaught Hotel in London, which was revealed in February 2024.
Built in 1897, the prestigious hotel in London’s Mayfair prides itself on its tradition of heritage and craftsmanship. For the one-of-a-kind suite, the hotel’s interior designer, Guy Oliver, partnered with Turquoise Mountain. This was not in fact their first collaborative project. It was in 2010 that The Connaught revealed The Prince’s Lodge, which Oliver and Turquoise Mountain furnished in the style of the 19th-century Peacock Palace in Kabul.
Located on the fifth floor of The Connaught, The King’s Lodge is an exclusive one-bedroom suite furnished in the historic Mughal style. It includes intricate architectural woodwork made in Jordan by Syrian artisans; handwoven carpets and miniature paintings from Afghanistan; fabrics from Myamar; and carved marble panels and mirrored glass insets from India.
‘The King’s Lodge has brought together over one hundred master artisans and team members from across Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, Myanmar and India,’ explains Dr Thalia Kennedy, creative director at Turquoise Mountain, ‘ to create and celebrate the finest craftsmanship and heritage design.’
A portion of the proceeds from every booking for both ‘Lodges’ goes directly to Turquoise Mountain’s programme. Furthermore, these interiors are perhaps the best demonstration of how important the crafts of these countries are to the rest of the world. Oliver comments: ‘Working with Turquoise Mountain, we can support the highest level of craftsmanship in communities at risk around the world.’
