Hotel development enhancing Bath’s public realm
Situated on the south side of the River Avon in Bath, this project sought to develop the site of the former police and local authority depot to provide a new 126-bed hotel which includes:
- A separate restaurant and ancillary building
- 15% of all rooms specially designed for disabled visitors
- 96 car parking spaces and room for coach parking
Whilst not in the centre of the historic townscape, the Holiday Inn Express Bath site does lie next to significant structures such as Hayesfield School and St James’ Cemetery. Consequently, the design was able to utilise the existing mature planting of the cemetery and draw upon this feature to create a significant open space and a suitable setting for the hotel which also contributes to the public realm.
The building provides accommodation over four storeys, clad in a combination of natural Bath stone ashlar with complementary contrasting panels of yellow ochre render. An entrance and bar area in glazed curtain walling add a modern lift to the otherwise traditional structure.
The construction phase utilised off-site manufacture and modern methods of construction techniques such as precast concrete walls and floors and bathroom pods to minimise the on-site programme.
