Architect and Builder Dec 2017 / Jan 2018 | Page 90

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
building and heat losses in colder periods
while providing a valuable acoustic barrier to
traffic and wind noise. The brickwork used
on the façade as well as internally has a high
thermal mass which works to both absorb
and release heat energy keeping the building
cool, whilst the tiling which is part of a ‘rain
screen’ cladding system, acts as a solar shade.
Any waste heat from the air conditioning
chillers is recovered and used to heat water
for the hotel.
Spaces that don’t require artificial cooling,
such as the carpark, have been designed to
benefit from natural cross-ventilation, achieved
by the use of a perforated brick façade designed
for visual sensibility. As well as permitting
natural air circulation, the brickwork creates
an elegant visual screen to the street which
provides an interesting animated façade when
backlit at night.
Locally sourced materials have been
specified where possible. DMA also considered
the ability of materials to withstand the specific
climatic conditions prolonging the endurance
and life cycle of the building. Their experience
and expertise in hotel design helped them to
optimise the hotel’s internal spatial planning,
minimising the size of the footplate.
The all-important acoustics
Traditionally hotels always have a proportion
of interleading rooms, useful for families
or instances where guests have assistants
or carers. Normally this is achieved by an
interconnection through the wall opposite
the bed, mostly with dual doors for acoustic
reasons. DMA’s experience as hotel specialist
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