Levitt Bernstein Reimagines Historic Manchester Fire Station as a Boutique Hotel
Manchester's historic London Road Fire Station has sat largely vacant in recent years, but that may change soon.
Allied London and Levitt Bernstein, an award-winning property development company and architecture firm respectively, have collaborated on and submitted a design proposal that stands as a full-scale reimagining of the unique and storied property. This plan, if put into action, seeks to reinvigorate more than the just the fire station—it seeks to overhaul and vitalize the surrounding neighborhood as well.
Allied London has owned the building, which is a Grade II* listed Edwardian Baroque-style structure, since 2015. At the time of purchase, the property had fallen into wide-spanning disrepair. Levitt Bernstein's submission, however, is aimed at refurbishing and expanding the property to include a boutique hotel, bars, restaurants, communal workspaces and private residence apartments.
For those concerned about the history of the classic building, there is cause to celebrate, as the submitted plan goes to careful lengths to preserve the building fabric wherever possible. It seeks to accomplish this while still having the new hotel wing of the structure seated in front of the existing London Road courtyard elevation.
The original façade of the building will become a side of a corridor that will connect the new hotel wing. The designers at Levitt have conceived of the structure's new extension as a metal tableau, able to simultaneously reference the heritage of the site while creating a harmonious composition that is housed within the confines of the courtyard.
Another key component of this design is the Fairfield Street wing. In this section of the property, the old firemen's flats where the men once lived will be adapted to something more modern: a series of communal workspaces and private residency apartments. These properties will also response to the building's overarching layout, striving to maintain many of the interior details that were inherent to the original.
At the core of this reimagined building, however, are the modern trimmings that mark world-class global hospitality properties. There will be a spa, several themed bars, and restaurants for all manner of dining.
In the central courtyard, this design features a new pavilion, where visitors can access other bars as well as an event space, which has a proposed glass prism installation that creates a grand sweeping staircase that descends upon a subterranean area. This section will be festooned with semi-reflective glass, which means that during the day it will reflect the architecture surrounding it, blending it into the background. At night, however, it will be illuminated within, creating a truly stunning effect.
Currently in the planning stage, the London Road Fire Station will begin the renovation and construction process in late 2017. let's take a look at some of the other more interesting projects that are currently underway in the United Kingdom:
Hard Rock Hotel London:
The Hard Rock Hotel is an international chain of rock-and-roll themed hotels that has a visible presence in most major tourist cities. The Hard Rock Hotel and its 900 rooms is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, a conversion of the existing Cumberland Hotel that will be located directly at Marble Arch on Hyde Park, near the crossroads of the prominent Oxford Street and Park Lane intersection. This hotel will feature a lobby where guests and visitors alike can enjoy signature cocktails, live music, and an on-site Hard Rock Café complete with the brand's iconic merchandise.
Moxy Hotel London Heathrow: Marriott International's iconic and trendy Moxy brand is finally coming to the United Kingdom with a 425-room facility to be located on Bath Road near Heathrow Airport. Expected to open in the first quarter of 2018, this hotel will boast the signature style and cost-efficient rates that have made Moxy Hotels so appealing to young travelers throughout the globe.
Odeon Leicester Square:
With space in London at such a premium, hotels have begun to explore options that create more room underground. The Odeon Leicester Square is the latest facility to do so, offering eight stories for guests above ground, complete with bars and restaurants. Below ground, the hotel will also have a spa with a 20-meter swimming pool, an Odeon cinema, and a banquet space.
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Lennart Kooy
associate partner TOPHOTELMEDIA
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