The site for this project is located along the Shropshire Union Canal in Chester, close to the Grade II listed Shot Tower. Previously an industrial area for lead works, the location has undergone extensive redevelopment with new shops, residential areas and cafes.

Our client, Vastint Hospitality, briefed us to design a 3-star Moxy hotel featuring 194 bedrooms, car parking and a commercial unit. The building design reflects the industrial character of the site and responds to its heritage through careful consideration of massing and materiality. The cladding adopts warm tones to continue the rhythm of surrounding buildings and acknowledge the historical past, while incorporating a darker base colour to ground the building.

The interior design of the front-of-house areas draws inspiration from horse racing to create a modern, vibrant atmosphere. Bedroom floors utilise pre-fabricated CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) panels with pre-fabricated bathroom pods, making the construction process particularly interesting as it requires specific detailing for CLT panel connections and assembly.

Our client employs the LEED certification scheme across their hotel portfolio to demonstrate their environmental credentials. This project is currently targeting LEED Gold certification.
The development has received recognition from Chester Heritage Society for its sensitive setting in relation to the Shot Tower.