Hotel architects, ReardonSmith, have gained planning consent for a new-build hotel on the Uxbridge Road in West London. The vote by the planning committee was unanimously in favour of granting the application. Located near the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Walpole Park, the consented hotel will occupy a vacant site that was once the location of Dawley House which was constructed in the 1960s.
Central to the architects’ scheme were considerations of sustainability, environmental impacts and the circular economy. Their proposal included:
- A design focused on longevity and robustness, allowing for adaptability and change of use
- An energy strategy that included passive design and efficiency measures as well as the potential of connection to new energy networks in the future
- An approach to waste management that emphasises re-use, and then recycling and composting, before energy recovery and disposal
- A sizeable biodiverse green roof
The Dawley House hotel is expected to comfortably exceed the minimum required for a BREEAM “Very Good” rating.
The building has been designed to respond to its location, both its immediate local setting and in the larger context, including views towards the building from the adjacent Conservation Area. It is 12 storeys high, including ground level, with open air plant on the roof contained within a louvered screen stepped back from the main building façade. The entire building is set back from the street, providing a landscape buffer zone between hotel and road, thus enhancing the boulevard concept of Uxbridge Road.
The modern design of the envelope is appropriate to the building’s function and, while unique to the locality, is in keeping with the design of adjacent properties. It is based on a façade bay module which will allow internal walls to be moved with minimum impact. Typically, a guestroom will comprise two façade modules and suite will comprise four; however, other permutations will be possible. The façade is articulated with a series of vertical and horizontal bands which provide a human scale and reflect the modular grouping of hotel rooms behind. Additional interest is provided by balconies and terraces which add complexity to the rhythm of the façade. It will be clad in secret fixed large format glass fibre reinforced concrete rainscreen cladding to withstand the effects of weather and environmental conditions, and which is inherently non-inflammable.
The hotel will include: 170 guestrooms and suites, a street level restaurant, gym, meeting rooms and staff relaxation facility.
In addition to ReardonSmith, the project team included: Drew Planning and Hoare Lea. The client was Miran International.