Evans Jones Design the next Big Sleep Hotel

• Posted by John Everitt on 14th Dec ’06 at 14:25 GMT
• 0 comments

Evans Jones Architectural division is currently working on the refurbishment of a 1970s' redundant office building in Central Cheltenham into the second Big Sleep Hotel. The Big Sleep Hotel chain is a budget price contemporary styled hotel for the style conscious traveler from business users to ‘weekend breakers’.

The first Big Sleep hotel opened in Cardiff ten years ago and was a refurbishment of an existing hotel. The Hotel in Cheltenham is the first time that the client has developed a building from scratch and it has been a great opportunity for the client and Evans Jones to develop a template for the ongoing growth of the chain. The concept is one of simple design and services which address the needs of the guest directly. The reality is that most guests will only be staying for one or two evenings hence reduced wardrobe space has been provided adding more space back into the room.

There are a selection of rooms including two penthouse suites and four executive suites which include a sitting / meeting area enabling business users to hold meetings within their rooms. Two family / group rooms have been incorporated which are fitted with a ‘Kitchen in a cupboard’ unit making it possible for residents to prepare their own snacks and light meals. The design of each of these rooms has been carefully considered to ensure the sense of space and light has been enhanced to provide comfortable and pleasant accommodation. The are also four accessible rooms offering a range of accommodation including doubles and twin rooms with baths and showers.

Evans Jones involvement with the project began with the preparation and submission of the Planning Application for the scheme.

Once consent had been granted a scheme was developed to convert the building into a 62 bed hotel within the fabric of the existing structure. The architectural solution for the scheme developed by Evans Jones Architectural has taken its lead from the clients aspiration to create a clean and crisp hotel which offers an alternative to the usual explosion of colour and finishes which exist in many hotels offering rooms in a similar price bracket. A high quality minimal approach has been taken to the design of the hotel to ensure a contemporary and uncluttered atmosphere is created. Through the use of contemporary materials and innovative design such as glass sliding doors, recessed shower trays and wall mounted flat screen TVs in every room the sense of space and openness has been maintained throughout the scheme. This has resulted in a scheme which maximizes the use of space within the rooms and common areas and creates the background for the distinctive brand styling that the client wishes to develop across the chain as more hotels are opened.

We at Evans Jones believe that the hotel will be a great benefit to Cheltenham bringing high quality low cost accommodation to the centre of the town. The hotel doesn't provide a restaurant facility and this means that the restaurants and bars local to the area will benefit from the additional trade of guests staying at the hotel. As well as the benefits the hotel will bring to the town it is great that a building which has stood empty for two years has found a new lease of life and whilst it has involved extensive refurbishment the structural alterations have been minimal.

As well as the Planning Consultancy and Architectural Services Evans Jones have also provided the Contract Administration Services for this project.

The hotel is due to open during November 2006.