We helped redevelop this small, boutique hotel in Brighton. It was our client’s first hotel project, having previously undertaken co-working / co-living spaces.
They wanted to create “a new type of self service hotel offering; convenient digital self check-in, luxurious sleep experience, superfast WiFi, kitchenettes and beautifully designed bedrooms.” It would be remotely manned and monitored, removing the need for permanent staff on site.
The hotel has been designed to be a fun space in the centre of town, with a focus on comfort and technology. Clients pre-book and receive access codes for the building prior to their arrival. Each room is furnished with an electronic tablet, providing guests with all they need to know about the accommodation as well as information about the local area.
When the property was purchased, internal spaces were constrained by their existing sizes. The basement area was disjointed, walls were made of bungaroosh (really!) and generally needed upgrading to create usable spaces. The layouts needed to be redesigned to create new spaces for additional en-suite bathrooms on the basement and ground floor levels, as well as new bedrooms on the ground floor.
The design phase was a collaborative approach; we worked with the client across a number of sessions and workshops to create the new spaces. Once this process was complete, the Cityzen team then set about detailing those spaces with upgraded materials to provide better acoustics to the new areas within the building (to meet Part E requirements of Building Regulations) and improve the user experience.
Cityzen worked closely with MLM Building Control and the builders to ensure an improved level of safety and comfort, providing: sound proofing details to the new rooms, coordination for new fire alarms, a sprinkler system, emergency lighting, new wiring and drainage throughout.
We also worked on a second hotel development project for this client – a Listed building with plenty of surprises in store so far (but we like a challenge!).
Update April 2023:
This project made the Times list for one of the top 50 hotels in the UK for under £100 a night.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-50-best-uk-hotels-for-under-100-a-night-b5t59x9mt