of
The brief was to re-develop and restore Coworth Park to provide a luxurious destination resort catering for an exclusive market concerned primarily with rest, relaxation and recuperation.
The solution was the extensive conversion of the Manor House into a 30 room hotel with restaurants, bar and events facilities; conversion of the existing stables into 29 rooms and suites; conversion of the barn into an exclusive restaurant; conversion of the 6 cottages into guest rooms; extensive landscaping and restoration of the grounds and the addition of a new energy centre.
The architects retained the facades and the main internal walls of the original 1776 house but demolished the inappropriate extensions at each end of the building and the internal floors which varied the levels complicating the operation of the hotel. Internally, the circulation is now clearer with new floors introduced to remove the previous split level.
EPR's designs restored the Georgian element of the house introducing new extensions to the second floor and to the north and south of the building. The various outbuildings were restored and modernised.
The highest quality materials and finishes have been used throughout the resort. Externally, traditional materials have been used wherever possible, including lime render and lead roofing slates on the Manor House and reclaimed bricks and hand made slates on the Stables and Cottages.
The interior design, by Fox Linton, utilises hardwood and carpeted floors set against painted walls and ceilings with moulded plaster profiles. Fabric walling and mirrored panels feature in the lounge and function areas, whilst bathrooms boast marble floors and walls with feature copper baths. Bedrooms are furnished with luxurious fabrics and bespoke furniture.
Coworth Park Estate itself comprises over 200 acres of land located adjacent to Virginia Water to the North and Ascot to the West. Contained within the estate Coworth House is situated in 35 acres of gardens and woodland.
The location of the main house and the out-buildings has not been altered by our designs, rather restored and enhanced. Additionally, extensive research into the surrounding historical landscape was carried out prior to starting the project. One of the discoveries was a hidden sunken garden which has since been restored.
The sash windows of the Mansion House employ a high performance glazing with narrow Krypton-filled cavities and spectrally selective coatings which allows them to retain their traditional appearance with thin clear panes and beading whilst minimising heat loss and unwanted solar gain.
Cowarth Park is one of the UK's most environmentally-friendly hotels through the incorporation of renewable and low energy technologies. The hotel aims to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50% thanks to radically different approaches to heating, cooling and lighting.