Union Hanover has submitted plans for a £35m water-side hotel in central Edinburgh which it says will define the brand for its Urban Villa concept.
The 180-unit hotel on Freer Street at Fountainbridge by the Union Canal Basin, consists of studios, one bed-rooms and four luxury roof top penthouses and is designed by award winning New York-based architect Grzywinski + Pons in association with Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects.
Union Hanover, a specialist investment and development firm with a hospitality focus, has a UK development pipeline in the region of £400m, including projects in Glasgow, Aberdeen and London. It is partnered by EquityBridge Asset Management.
Managing director Eric Jafari said: “We are very passionate about creating a destination hotel for Edinburgh. The designs pay homage to Edinburgh’s cultural fabric of elegance while infusing elements of sexy Manhattan feel.”
New concept for UK
Jafari explained Urban Villa is a ‘boutique all-suites hotel.’ This is a new concept for the UK but it is much more common in other parts of Europe, Asia and the US.
As well as a bedroom and bathroom, the usual Urban Villa offer includes a kitchen and living room, all of which can be transformed in different ways to accommodate any kind of guest, from business travellers on extended stays, to families on weekend breaks.
Balance of design
Union Hanover and Urban Villa co-founder Andrew Fowler added: “The location identifies extremely well with the brand philosophy of Urban Villa; the Urban and edgy tones of our common areas and front of house reflecting the culturally rich and redeveloping areas of the Union Canal & Basin, contrasting with the Villa decadence of our Suites mirroring the modern and developed corporate west end area of Edinburgh.
“It’s this balance of design integrating modern luxury with the cultural heritage of each of our properties locations that allows each Urban Villa hotel to offer a unique hospitality experience while offering consistent values, facilities and service”.
Matthew Grzywinski, principal at Grzywinski + Pons said: “While we were thrilled by the opportunities afforded by the context – both site and city – we felt that designing a new building in Edinburgh is a question of balance; progressing the formal discourse of the built environment while respecting the incredible heritage, tradition and quality of the city’s architecture.
“We endeavoured to create a building that is as aspirational as it is inviting, and our hope is that the project both catalyses the evolution of such a promising neighbourhood and ultimately benefits from the very setting it has enhanced.”
The City has been waiting dor a hotel of this design calibre
Jeremy Scott, Director at Michael Laird Architects said: “The design is a totally unique and ambitious urban solution for this City centre waterside location which will purposefully raise the bar in terms of design approach for Edinburgh. The stunning facade articulation and material pallet will respond to the special quality of light in Edinburgh. The City has been waiting for a hotel of this design calibre for a long time.”