Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

MICA has been working with The Bridge of Orchy Hotel ​lodge to develop a number of schemes to improve their offer in a major step change for both the hotel and the highland tourist market. Eleven new guest lodges and an extended roof terrace both provide a luxury experience with unrivalled views to the landscape.

Client

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Dates

Sept 2022 - anticipated construction Summer 2024

Value

£2m construction cost

The Bridge of Orchy Hotel occupies the centre of the village of Bridge of Orchy, between Crianlarich and Glencoe. Dating back to 1751, the village has a railway station and a church and is a popular stopping point on the West Highland Way overlooked by Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dòthaidh.

The historic hotel is a welcoming stop for walkers and due to increasing popularity and recognition of the West Highland Way by tourists internationally, the hotel has expanded considerably in recent years to cater for more guests. The hotel is looking to develop a new offer in response to the demand for UK travel and hospitality destinations.

Bridge of Orchy Hotel set in the spectacular highland landscape
Bridge of Orchy Hotel set in the spectacular highland landscape
Masterplan view of proposed developments within wider site
Masterplan view of proposed developments within wider site

Masterplan

Our initial work with the hotel has involved identifying a number of potential sites for additional staff accommodation, as well as feasibility proposals for new hotel rooms on the bank of the river with spectacular views of the landscape and surroundings. From this three interconnected projects have been developed: Staff Accommodation, Hotel Terrace Extension, and self catering lodges. The former was completed in 2019 and planning approval was granted in 2022 and 2023 respectfully for the latter two projects.

Being outside: framing views of the natural world
New guest lodges in the landscape
Visual of Interiors with views to the landscape
1 / 3 Being outside: framing views of the natural world

Guest Lodges

MICA have designed a series “lodge living” spaces informed by the native landscape and the experience of the panoramic setting from the vantage of covered verandas. The lodges are located to blend with the wider landscape and to create a sense of privacy and seclusion with views to the mountains from the interiors and terraces.

Arranged in two rows, following the sloping topography, the arrangement has been grouped to ensure that privacy and a sense of seclusion is maintained for the occupants. The orientation of the lodges varies, offers views to the north towards the Black Mount, Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, and Ben Dorain. Access to lodges is from Station Brae on gravel paths, changing to metal grilles where required, to ensure continuity of the underlying landscape, plants and watercourses.

The arrangement of the lodges takes an organic form when seen as a cluster, necessary to provide each lodge with good orientation, separation from others, appropriate site context and levels, good views and to avoid trees. Variety within the qualities of each lodge comes from the setting and the angle of views from the terrace and interior.

The plan has an elongated pitched roof that covers the veranda and wraps around the side to provide a dedicated area for a hot tub. Large areas of sliding and fixed glazing blur outside with in. Solar gain is minimised by the deep covered terrace and is a key feature of the brief.

The roof is covered extensively with planting and turf to add character and blend with the wider landscape. The edges of the Lodges are to blend seamlessly with wider landscape with planting and rocks that are rugged and local and to enhance the ecological value of the site. The 11 lodge development is a major step change for both the hotel and the highland tourist market.

Proposed lodge elevations
Proposed lodge elevations
Visual of interiors with framed views
Visual of interiors with framed views

Hotel Terrace

MICA have designed an extension to the external terrace to increase the functionality of the Hotel Bar and Restaurant.

The design approach to the new terrace has been informed by the period architecture of the main Hotel and maintains the primacy of the gabled bay and to frame and showcase the general mass of the original hotel. It seeks to improve the visual relationship between the 2015 hotel extension by blending the two forms and material treatment with the new low lying horizontal extension.

This has been considered by maintaining articulation of the larch timber slatted frontage and setting back part of the terrace volume with a similar white rendered finish and design detailing in keeping with to the original hotel. The terrace also creates an opportunity to transform the rear of the hotel into a more welcoming setting for to walkers approaching the hotel from the bridge - making the back into more of a front. To activate the new frontage, a planter and integrated bench provides a welcome vantage as well as access for storage and provisions for the bikes and other outdoor equipment for guests.

Early model view of planned extension
Rear of the hotel, prior to work
1 / 2 Early model view of planned extension
1 / 2

Staff Accommodation

MICA have designed new staff dwellings to attract potential new employees that are critical to the future success of the hotel, as well to ensure staff retention through larger staff units for young families to grow. The design of the dwellings echoes traditional building forms, modernised with black timber façade and vertical windows to allow views out the landscape from the shared kitchen spaces.

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