The architects behind Keswick’s new £6 million Premier Inn have said the building was designed to be ‘architecturally sophisticated’.
Designed by The Harris Partnership on behalf of client and developer Premcor, the three-storey building features 71 bedrooms and a restaurant.
Premier Inn anticipates that around 30,000 of its guests will stay there every year based on its latest occupancy rates – who they also anticipate will generate £1.8 million per year in additional visitor expenditure in Keswick and the surrounding area.
The architects behind the new hotel also said they wanted to pay homage to Keswick through the use of natural materials and specialist construction methods.
As a result, local contractors and a range of materials including Lakeland stone, render, reclaimed slate and sections of metal seam cladding were used to meet the Lake District National Park’s planning requirements.
Planning officers also wanted to see an ‘architecturally sophisticated’ design which added to the landscape.
Carl Braim, director at The Harris Partnership said: “When we started work on this project, we knew the building we designed had to be something special, because the environment around it is so unique.
“It’s been fantastic to be able to bring together the latest methods of construction and environmental design, using traditional industries and local materials to create an aesthetic which is functional and modern but which also pays homage to the areas historic landscape.
“Working with the developer Premcor and Premier Inn owner Whitbread plc, as well as local stakeholders and the planning officers at the Lake District National Park, we’ve been able to create and deliver a building which further enhances the local visitor economy offer, brings a former site back into active use, and does so in an architecturally interesting and attractive way.”
