DLG Architects help Rudding Park Hotel to mix the old with the new

Over the last 16 months, Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate has added a further 48 bedrooms as well as a cinema, library, a gym and spa facility.

The bedrooms, which include five suites and five spa bedrooms, were completed at the end of 2010 but the gym and spa facilities have just opened.

DLG Architects, based in Leeds, led the design team which comprised 25-30 staff, including eight members of staff from DLG. About 100 people worked on the project in total with RN Wooler & Co carrying out the building work.

Julian Monaghan, senior partner at DLG, said: “It was pretty successful as a project but the extension was built into a slope which brought its own challenges of how to maximise the lower basement areas.

“We had to be careful how the extension related to the existing building.

“It’s been done in a contemporary manner so it looks like a new wing. One of the most successful bits is the transition zone between the old and the new.”

He added: “The hotel wanted to introduce a more modern theme to cater for a wide range of guests. They wanted something that was timeless so we introduced bold colours. The rooms are very different to the existing offer and they build on what is already there.”

The extensive landscaping scheme around the new wing is still to be completed after work was held up during two freezing winters.

Mr Monaghan said: “It was a challenging project because Rudding Park has very high standards which they demanded from everyone who worked on the project. They put a huge amount of effort into making sure everything was correct.

“A lot of time was spent on the design stages through to execution and the quality of the finish.

“Everyone likes the kudos of being associated with Rudding Park.”

The new facilities will be revealed to the region’s property community at tonight’s Yorkshire Property Awards 2011, organised by the Variety Club. DLG is shortlisted in the Best Architect category.