Our objective with this Grade II-listed building, located in a conservation area in the chic Montpellier district of Cheltenham, was two-fold: along with crafting a contemporary design to balance out its 19th-century features, we aimed to help our client evolve an emerging collection of design-led boutique hotels across the UK. We seamlessly delivered both components, devising a holistic, fully integrated design solution that sensitively refurbishes the building and lends itself to future hotels in the Chapter brand.
We undertook extensive conservation and repair to unify the building’s exterior elements and enhance its interior spaces with high-quality contemporary interventions. We maximised the space with a new crescent-shaped wing that completes the rear elevation and creates an enclosed courtyard framed by an elegant ‘veil’ of coloured glass. This modern extension adds 16 individually designed guestrooms, simplifies circulation, and establishes a social heart around which the restaurant, bar and other communal spaces are arranged.
Other additions include a library, a luxury spa, private dining and function rooms, a garden terrace, and a beautifully restored Victorian conservatory.
Our design has certainly struck a chord. In 2011, the hotel was ranked twelfth in The Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s 100 Best Hotels in the World, and was a Gold award winner in the 2013 Cotswold Tourism Awards.
The refurbished hotel sensitively responds to the local environment and historic context, establishing a distinctive, contemporary British style.
Very good hotels have a way of becoming part of the local community, as well as being great places for visitors. The Montpellier Chapter has achieved this in Cheltenham.
A one-off sculpture by artist Alison Crowther was commissioned as a centrepiece for the reception area. Carved from solid English oak, it stands as an innovative interpretation of a conventional hotel reception desk.
The main architectural aim was to unify the hotel’s various competing elements into a functional and beautiful whole, creating a balance between original features and modern additions.
