design et al are delighted to announce that Matthews Mee Ltd have been successfully shortlisted in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2015. Chateau De La Cazine will compete for the Hotel under 50 Rooms Award (Global).
The first phase of this project has been to take an already architecturally stunning but run down and neglected 19th Century chateau and convert it into a luxury 5* 17 bedroom Hotel including penthouse suite, reception, fine dining restaurant, bar, lounge, public spaces and gym.
The client did not want a period recreation of a 19th Century Chateau interior but a dynamic, contemporary interpretation of a traditional French interior which would attract the modern traveller looking for a unique experience while retaining the historic character. Due to the unique and original architectural character of the various rooms low level, free standing and shortened dividing screens were used to separate the living spaces without creating small spaces and avoiding awkward junction details between new and old, allowing vision as well as the abundance of natural light from the original French windows.
En-suite bathrooms were a must and the designers devised a ‘petite maison’ shower and W.C which respected the rooms dimensions and scale. Colours and forms echo the rolling natural grounds in the heart of rural France without being incongruous. Luxurious Jacquard fabric materials were selected to pay homage to the local town of Aubusson famous for its tapestry industry. The region is also famous for its international reputation in porcelain, enamel and stained-glass. Existing examples of these where protected and restored, alongside new details from the glass doors, contemporary chandeliers and ironmongery, right down to the table ware and cutlery selections.
Chateau de la Cazine has realised the client’s vision and provided a spring board off which to progress with the second phase of the development which will see the formation of a larger resort with 18 hole golf course, outdoor pursuits, gite style village, and spa within a 16th Century Chateau in the grounds.