The Point Hotel & The Point Conference Centre
Location: 32 & 34 Bread St, Edinburgh
Date Built: 1997-1999
Original architects: Andrew Doolan Architects
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Point Hotel Refurbishment
- PR from KBA:
Edinburgh-based interior design and architect practice KBA has been commissioned
by The Point Hotel to undertake its radical refurbishment project.
Ten years on from
the opening of Edinburgh’s renowned design hotel in 1996, a new design
approach will transform potentially 138 bedrooms over the course of the
next year, moving away from its previous minimalist style to one embracing
warmth and tranquility.
Neil Ellis, General Manager of The Point, remarked:
“The hotel’s original design harnessed a minimalist approach, which was extremely well received. However, over the years the rooms were starting to wear and look a bit tired. Working with KBA we have the confidence to embrace a complete change, and we’re excited to now be upgrading them, providing higher levels of comfort and style”.
The project has already
begun with the refurbishment of the fourth floor. The lobby provides an
immediate sense of what the rooms will offer: both the lobby and corridor
are dark and evocative. Lighting plays a key part - the fittings, exclusively
manufactured by Mike Stoane to KBA’s specification, kiss light onto
the room numbers and create pools of luminescence that highlight the uniquely
designed carpets coming out from underneath the paired-down doors. An
upgrade of the hotel’s fluorescent feature lights now creates a subtle
glow, bringing together the warm colours of the walls and flooring with
punches of light.
Each of the three room types has been designed to cater superbly for business and leisure guests alike. A rich mink coloured carpet integrating vibrant colour details exudes an air of luxury, and warm dark nut panels frame the entertainment wall and mould beautifully onto the dresser.
The larger rooms, some of which offer unique views of Edinburgh Castle, now have separate dressing, lounge and sleep areas, which have been created using an illuminated dividing screen. Opulent sofas, lounge chairs and ottomans combine to create the point of difference. Further innovative elements such as rubber flooring and gargantuan twin showers within the en-suites set the rooms apart from any other, ensuring a truly memorable experience and the high Point to a stay in the city.
Gail Thomson, KBA Design Director, commented:
“The original minimalist interior provided us with a blank canvas on which we could re-position the entire approach to the rooms. The majority of visitors are well travelled with an increasing awareness of design and operational style; as a result their expectations are higher than ever before. We feel it is critical for hotels to engage with guests in a more imaginative and memorable experience. The new design focuses on creating warmth and a sense of character for the rooms, with exceptional attention to detail. Quirky little elements provide areas of intrigue and surprise throughout, and beautifully designed detailing has given consideration to how the end user might enjoy visiting The Point time after time. We have worked closely with the client to create an environment that will make it easy for the guest to enjoy staying here, and feel enthused about returning”.
KBA, or Kerr Blyth Associates, is a young dynamic company run by two highly
experienced and award winning design professionals, Kerr Blyth and Gail
Thomson. The studio is known for its non-dogmatic, integrated and practical
approach to the creation of innovative and usable built space, incorporating
architecture, interior design and product design/manufacture. KBA operates
from Edinburgh and works throughout Scotland, the UK and Europe.
Point Conference Centre
Point Hotel: image by Steffen Schefer
The Point Hotel was created by refurbishing the Old St Cuthbert's Co-operative
Association Ltd. Showroom building (by TP Marnick &Son, 1937) featuring
reputedly the first curtain walling in Scotland. The Point is made by
large uncluttered spaces with plenty of curves and lit throughout by coloured
concealed lighting creates a vibrant contemporary look. The lighting,
generally fluorescent lights covered in various hues of silica gel, is
by Jonathan Speirs & Associates. The Point Hotel entrance / foyer was
refurbished mid-2000.
Point Hotel: image by Steffen Schefer
The restaurant has real atmosphere and its dark palette and solid chandeliers
are influenced by Prague's famous Obecni Dom bar/restaurant. It's large
windows to Bread Street are veiled with translucent white floor-to-ceiling
curtains and the relationship with the kitchen is refreshingly uncelebrated.
Entry is from the Foyer which connects entry, reception and lifts: this
space separates the restaurant from the bar but each has access. Thus
two routes overlap and without the impediment of doors are highly successful.
Vibrant planes of colour and wonderfully-clean modern lines reach their
apotheosis in the Foyer, as upstairs the carpet and wall finishes dull
the impression necassarily.
Point Hotel: image by Steffen Schefer
Monboddo's Bar revolves around the central oval-shaped bar: this is made
of steel and glass with curious orange bookends to the spirit shelves.
The furniture is well-selected and the space is decorated with modern
sculptures.
Each space - foyer, restaurant, bar - has a strong individual flavour,
with no fear of using both dark and vivid colours, nor of using large
expanses of perspex. Andrew Doolan was both the developer and the architect
of the scheme and part-owned this Hotel, the Conference Centre and the
Edinburgh City Travel Inn.
Point Conference Centre: image © Adrian Welch
Andrew Doolan's empire grows with the minimal but playful addition of
the Point Conference Centre next-door-but-one. The intervention is bold
and integrates well into the street with a roof terrace stepping back
above, topped off with a simple canopy. Materials used are similiar to
the Point and Mondboddo's.
Point Conference Centre: image ©
keith hunter from the Point Hotel / Andrew
Doolan Architects
Book a room at the Point Hotel, Edinburgh: 0131 221 5555 - please mention
this website, edinburgharchitecture.co.uk.
The Point Hotel was selected as one of the world's top 50 design hotels.
The Hotel contains 140 bedrooms of which 4 are luxury jacuzzi suites and
85 being executive bedrooms, most with views north of Edinburgh Castle.
Point Hotel dining times (last checked 2004): Mon-Thu 6-10pm; Fri & Sat
6-11pm - check with The Point.
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Point Hotel & Point Conference Centre photos © Adrian Welch
Point Hotel - Website: www.point-hotel.co.uk