Named the deHavilland hotel and restaurant complex - after the wing of the deHavilland Supermarine Spitfire whose elegant shape the new building resembles - the iconic development will comprise 60 quality hotel rooms with the additional flexibility to accommodate business and conference meetings and a restaurant catering for up to 126 diners.
The grant of planning permission will provide a much needed facility to support the tourism and business sectors of the city.
Located on a prime riverside site, just 5 to 10 minutes from the city centre, the deHavilland hotel and restaurant complex is to be developed on a disused area of employment land. To achieve an attractive design and layout, Lomond Group was aware that development proposals had to be innovative, taking full account of the challenges posed by a narrow and contaminated site with air traffic activity in the area.
In recognition of the growing numbers of budget hotels available in and around the city, Lomond Group decided at an early stage that the deHavilland hotel and restaurant complex would offer a high standard of accommodation and dining by setting a recognisable and discernible benchmark for visitors to Dundee through the quality of its internal and external appearance.
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The eye-catching design and layout of the building is the creation of Ged Young, partner of Dundee architectural firm, ‘aim’ (architecture, interiors, media).
The result is an aeronautical themed structure with a streamlined design and contemporary finishing materials combining to achieve a highly visible and iconic landmark on one of the most important gateways into Dundee.
Whilst the innovative site layout allows for the vast majority of car parking spaces to be located beneath the building, mindful of the Scottish Executive’s transport agenda and acknowledging the importance of sustainable transport initiatives to the benefit of the local environment, Lomond Group has undertaken to promote the use of a shuttle bus service to and from the city centre and the airport.
Furthermore, as the hotel is located on a cycle route, bike hire, and related facilities will also be included. Such initiatives are intended to make a meaningful contribution towards relieving congestion in a city which is projected to grow significantly over the years ahead.
Externally, the new building will be reminiscent of the elegance of the wing of the venerable deHavilland Supermarine Spitfire. The hotel’s aeronautical design also incorporates a high ‘control’ tower which will house the panoramic restaurant on the top floor.
As well as offering excellent gourmet fare, the dining experience will provide for a 270 degree view across the Tay estuary, with access to an outside balcony allowing breathtaking views to be absorbed in good weather. Rooms with south facing balconies, together with the restaurant experience, have been created to give guests and customers ‘a window seat’ to the setting sun over the river.
Contemporary materials will be used to emphasise the aerofoil shape of the building with external art work created by local artist Nael Hanna to enhance the experience of visitors and those using this route into and out of Dundee.
At night the wing-shaped accommodation building will be illuminated by low energy L.E.D. colour-change lighting on the balconies. The combination of light to wall will create an eye-catching feature on the riverside and enhance the geometry of the hotel and restaurant at night.
The deHavilland Hotel and Restaurant complex has been earmarked for completion in the second quarter of 2009.
(CD)
