The architecture challenge in converting a prison building into a luxury hotel,
Commercial building renovation projects presented architects with design challenges.
The conversion of the 18th century Bodmin Prison into a modern hotel was an acknowledgment of the building’s infrastructure limitations.
Listed buildings often have building regulations to preserve historical and architectural interests,
which influence thermal comfort, and how daylight is introduced to alter building spaces.
Sometimes design challenges make architectural planning more complex, particularly when reorienting a building.
Common challenges include sourcing materials to replicate or meet existing infrastructures,
and adapting floor plans, taking into account user comfort,
and incorporating technology into the planning stages also influence contemporary design.
The Bodmin Jail required skylight installations that could function within the iconic existing pitched roof.
Creative and sustainable opportunities presented by design challenges
Design challenges lead to creative innovations that can be beneficial to the environment and reduce carbon emissions by using fewer materials required.
Renovation projects are an opportunity to restore existing interiors and building features such as walls and ceiling structures.
Restoration has become a more focused area of work for architects who also think sustainably.
Central to the success of converting the Victoria Bodmin Jail into a luxury hotel was the integration of skylights into public spaces,
such as the corridor and reception areas.
The architecture challenge in converting a prison building into a luxury hotel
The goal was to provide natural light and comfortable ventilation in the warmer summer months for guests to enjoy.
After years of dormancy, Twelve Architects has commissioned to renovate this historic building.
A creative team turned the ruins and overgrown vegetation into a tourist attraction for comfort and luxury.
The Bodmin Gil Hotel consists of two wings connected by a tower to form a central lobby.
Each prison cell suite has been converted into luxurious guest bedrooms, and skylights are integrated into the sloping rooftops.
VELUX glazing panels were also selected because they are a custom solution that can restore and replicate the original ceiling lighting structure.
This renovation project combined the old and the new through innovative design.
Simple on-site installation
214 VELUX glass panels were selected to be incorporated into the sloping surfaces to form 40° double-sloped solutions.
The panels consist of aluminum frames with triple-glazed glazing units and are sealed with a UV-resistant material, providing thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
Even in summer the roof units can be opened to provide ventilation and cooling rooms with warm air rising.
Restoration and redevelopment of existing building infrastructure is essential if you want to reduce the impact of construction on the environment.
The use of daylight helps improve well-being, while also reducing energy consumption.
