This proposal is for a 138-bedroom hotel located beside the River Don, Rotherham.
The development includes a sensitive refurbishment of the three-storey, grade II listed foundry building and a new build extension connected by a glass bridge. The original owners, Guest
& Chrimes, became world famous for inventing, patenting, and manufacturing the leak-proof tap that revolutionised the supply of safe piped domestic water in Britain.
The inspiration of the design derives from an old lithograph of a cross-section of the patented tap. This image illustrates the screw thread’s serrated edges that contrast with an elegantly
curved tap handle. We have abstracted both these features to evolve an architectural language for the new extension so that the old and new share a common heritage. The screw
thread has evolved into a saw-toothed plan and roofscape, while the tap handle has informed the external paving design and associated reflection pool.
The Guest & Chrimes mill was once a brass foundry. Sadly, it now lies derelict. The design includes a complete restoration of the existing building, whilst the site’s rich manufacturing
history of brass informs the proposed material palette of the new extension. The new façade of the extension is to be constructed from a combination of solid and perforated brass panels, which adds to a narrative that the new brass clad building could have once been manufactured in the former brass foundry. Originally, the listed building was one of several buildings that were originally connected by high level bridges. Remnants of the castellated structural beams that supported the bridges are still visible on the listed facade. The proposed bridge link connecting the old and new buildings will be constructed from beams that are facsimiles of the original.
The hotel is located adjacent to the New York Stadium, which is the home ground of Rotherham Football Club. The proposal includes a new ceremonial approach to the stadium, which is the spaces between the old and new buildings. This is animated with a restaurant and bar within the original foundry. The landscape design culminates in a new public square adjacent to the stadium that incorporates a large reflecting pool in the shape of the original tap handle. It is envisaged this square will be a meeting point for football fans, particularly on match days.