Parc Hotel Cardiff, Building, Architect, Images, Project, Photos, News
Cardiff Hotel Building : Parc Hotel Wales
Thistle Hotels – Development in Cardiff, south Wales – design by Rolfe Judd
9 Jan 2009
Parc Hotel Cardiff
Contemporary new look for Thistle Hotels
Design: Rolfe Judd Architects
Photos: Morley Von Sternberg
ROLFE JUDD’S CONTEMPORARY LOOK FOR THISTLE HOTELS UNDERPINS NEW FUTURE FOR GROUP
A stylish and contemporary new look for Thistle Hotels has been unveiled at The Parc Hotel in Cardiff.
Designed by award-winning architects, Rolfe Judd, the £15m refurbishment is part of a wider £100m investment into the rebrand of the entire Thistle Hotels portfolio.
The Parc Hotel is a flagship property for Thistle’s new corporate identity – which will see a new, informal and contemporary feel for all hotels, in addition to improved quality and service standards.
Rolfe Judd was tasked with creating an interior tailored to Thistle’s existing customer base but also attractive to a clientele used to high-design and international standards. This resulted in a striking, modern interior that was bolder and more luxurious than the original but that incorporated the main features of the Grade II listed hotel.
Rolfe Judd designer, Eleni Kondos, said: “We carefully restored key features and selected a palette of subtle colours and textures which would give both a fresh contemporary feel and complement the original features.”
Martin Orme, General Manager of The Parc Hotel adds: “The beauty of The Parc’s brand new look is that it has preserved everything Cardiff adores about the hotel, such as the Victorian window arches but added a fresh, modern look that we’re sure our guests will love.”
The redevelopment includes an executive lounge for business users, a gym area and a new restaurant called HAMON’s that has been designed to attract an external clientele as well as hotel guests. Business guests will have high-speed wireless access throughout and a flexible meetings and events offer. The eight meeting rooms include two large conference facilities that accommodate 300 people theatre-style, all equipped with the latest presentation equipment.
In recognition of the success of the transformation, the AA hospitality organisation has agreed a four star deluxe mark for the hotel. Having set the standard for a new generation of Thistle Hotels, and for the roll out of the brand across the remaining hotels, Rolfe Judd will continue to work across the portfolio.
The Parc Hotel in Cardiff – Design Detail
Bedrooms
A palette of dark timber and light coloured fabrics, complemented by details and highlight colours in throws, cushioning and carpet design give the guestrooms a stylish and contemporary feel. All rooms have been provided with air conditioning, mini-bars and access to Wi-Fi as standard.
Bathrooms
Simple and elegant bathrooms have been achieved by using large-scale wall tiling, dark floor tiling and high quality sanitary ware.
Restaurant
The HAMON’s restaurant – which has the widest selection of Champagne in the city – is open to guests and non-guests with entrances on both the street and the hotel reception lobby. A feature glass wine rack on the back bar, visible from the reception lobby, presents a dramatic display of champagne, wine and spirits.
All lighting within the restaurant is controllable and has been designed to allow for dimming and zoning, and is programmable to create various mood lighting effects. A feature bar with illuminated acrylic front panels and a black stone top acts as a centre-piece to the restaurant.
Decorative wall linings together with strip up lighting along banquette seating provides definition to a wall which divides the front and back areas of the restaurant.
Throughout the design a palette of subtle colours and materials, together with feature lighting, are employed to give the new restaurant interior informal elegance.
Reception and lobby
Thistle Hotels wished that the lobby should encourage guests to have a drink in the adjacent Harlech Bar or lunch or dinner in the HAMON’s Restaurant and Champagne Bar. To this end Rolfe Judd has endeavoured to open up the lobby space. New individual reception pods give the guest a personal check in experience but the main lobby space acts as a reception to the hotel and to the restaurant and bar. It was important that the new contemporary interior did not overpower the retained period features.
The Parc Hotel in Cardiff – Building Information
Architect and interior design Rolfe Judd
Structural Engineer Willcox Cooper
QS Davis Langdon
Fit out DACO Contracts
Rolfe Judd
Rolfe Judd is a successful team of highly skilled architects, planners and interior designers. Founded in 1968, Rolfe Judd is now a second-generation practice, which is design led and has a deserved reputation for innovation and quality of delivery.
Thistle Hotels
Thistle is transforming what they do, and how they do it.
The guest experience is everything. A relaxing, comfortable ambience in which guests can work or rest at their own pace. Wireless internet access in any area of the hotels. Personal service delivered in a warm, efficient, straightforward manner. Restaurants that win coveted AA Rosettes.
To bring it all to life, Thistle is investing over £100 million in the next two years. With 33 hotels nationwide, including ten in central London, the name may be the same, but they’re showing the world a very different face.
www.thistle.com
*AA Merit Score
The AA recognises around 4000 hotels across Britain & Ireland. The AA Merit Score (previously called the AA Quality Percentage) provides consumers with a means of comparing hotels within the same star rating. This score is out of 100. The AA Merit Score is shown beside hotel entries in the AA Hotel Guide and on the AA web site (www.theaa.com).
Location: Parc Hotel, Cardiff, Wales
Welsh Architecture – Selection
National Assembly for Wales
Richard Rogers Partnership
National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales Photos
Website: Wales
Welsh building : Galeri Creative Enterprise Centre
Comments / photos for the Parc Hotel Cardiff buildings page welcome
Thistle Hotel Cardiff