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THE BRIEF WAS to sympathetically convert an Edinburgh City centre Grade A listed Georgian building with a 70’s extension to the rear, fully refurbishing the exterior and interior into a 187 bed 4-star hotel, incorporating a new ozone pool, spa and gym. Originally the first large scale hotel in Edinburgh in 1819, when Apex took it over it had been the Edinburgh Council offices for a number of years. The London and Edinburgh based Ian Springford Architects (ISA) had previously carried out a number of hotel projects for Apex Hotels having been responsible for developing the visual identity and branding.

The general concept was to open up the original Georgian proportions of the rooms where possible and highlight the historic detailing. "The concept accentuated the division between old and new parts of the building in the 70’s extension," says Emma Franks, ISA’s senior interior designer. "As the new areas immediately beyond reception were very low and therefore made very dark in strong contrast to the height and light of the Georgian rooms."

The heritage body, Historic Scotland, required the design to keep various original architectural and decorative features such as fireplaces and cornices. This worked well for most of the design elements. The lounge area is dramatically linked to the reception by use of framing the fireplace and feature chandelier in the lounge through a historic opening.

To reach the brasserie from reception requires entering a dark and low ceilinged transition area in the 70’s extension, which forms the meet and greet corridor running adjacent to the brasserie, before once again being brought back out into the high ceilings and light finishes of the Georgian areas.

The two brasseries are then linked by an opening in the wall along the servery counter, which allows guests to flow seamlessly between the two spaces and retains a visual link between brasseries The overall treatment is the same in each of the Brasseries’ rooms where coloured paint finishes have been used on walls and timber and historic detailing has been picked out in white. The furniture and lighting alters in each area however, according to the requirements. The lounge is more traditional in the choices of armchairs and fabrics, where the brasseries remain very contemporary in feel with oversized lamp shades and strong patterned fabrics to furniture.

Feature lighting was used to create focus points in reception and barsseries. ISA incorporated a chandelier to the lounge area to frame the fireplace and create a key feature at reception and lounge. The full height mirror framed graphic screen at reception acting as the draught lobby on entrance. The chocolate coloured fully mosaic tiled wall continuing down the meet & greet corridor, with shimmer screen to one side. The angelpoise wall lights used to illuminate the brasserie tables in central areas.

Many of the materials used to reinforce the design concept were textured or reflective which added a depth to wall and floor finishes. "We were able to choose extensive use of slate and dark mosaic to accentuate the darkness of the low level areas, while in contrast using limestone and wood in the lighter Georgian areas," says Franks.
Providing air conditioning in the Georgian areas without penetrating or lowering the ceiling was very difficult and was a major design preoccupation and starting point. Each solution is slightly different but the end result is discreet.

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