Assael Architecture have successfully been shortlisted in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2014. Their project, The Greenwich Hotel, will compete for the Hotel 50-200 Rooms Award.
Located on a gateway to the Ashburnham Triangle Conservation Area in Greenwich, this former Metropolitan Police section house was designed by McMorran and Whitby Architects in 1944. Following years of service as a residence and training facility for Metropolitan Police Officers, Maurice Drummond House had lain vacant for a number of years. Standing as a derelict monument to its former past, the building had been subjected to a number of failed restoration attempts and alternative uses.
The project brief sought to restore the external appearance of the existing building, retain the majority of the external Architectural features whilst proposing an overhaul of the building’s internal layout and function. Externally, works were confined to the construction of a two-storey extension at roof level, where a contemporary, lightweight glass structure houses premium accommodation, boasting uninterrupted views across Central London and the City.
The internal layout of the building was subject to sympathetic modification, allowing the design team to maximise the internal capacity whilst incorporating generous hotel facilities. Consultation with the local Conservation Area Association, and the public throughout the design process ensured that the proposed design was developed in line with community aspirations for the area.
Working with the existing building presented the opportunity to retain and enhance a number of unique architectural features present within the internal and external fabric. Restoring a redundant building to this new use has provided a substantial uplift to the surrounding area, allowing an existing landmark to be reinstated.