Toby Osbourn, Senior Surveyor at Gerald Eve, reflects on our Retrofit First event, which delves into the transformative impact of hotel retrofits and adaptive reuse in London.

Last Wednesday, The London Centre hosted a thought-provoking event by NLA, focusing on the evolving landscape of hotel retrofitting and the future of London's hospitality sector. The event offered valuable insights into the role of retrofit construction, its benefits and the hurdles it faces in today’s environment. Over the past decade, the prominence of property repurposing and refurbishment has soared, and in particular in recent years with ground up development becoming increasingly challenging, repurposing has become increasingly important. This is particularly important in supporting London's growth, where the population has grown nearly 15% from 2014 and tourism has increased by over 11% from 2014.

 

Throughout the event, the "fabric first" concept emerged as a central theme, emphasising the importance of understanding and optimising existing properties. Gary Mountford, Technical Director of EPR Architects captivated the audience with the story of the Nomad Hotel, a project that transformed the Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station. A notable feature of this hotel is the Magistrates Ballroom, formerly a courtroom, where historical architecture has been elegantly preserved.

 

Echoing this theme, David Glossop, Senior Director at Introba described the conversion of a 1980s office building into the Amano Hotel, a luxurious four-star hotel. He highlighted the crucial role of technology in maximising building potential, noting how it eliminated the need for rooftop plant installations, freeing up space for a popular rooftop bar that attracts both guests and local visitors.

 

Ana Araujo, a Partner at Buro Happold, shed light into the Whiteleys mixed-use development, highlighting the careful preservation of historical features and the emphasis on minimising embodied carbon. A key architectural element of the original shopping centre, the central glass dome, has been retained. This decision was influenced by embodied carbon calculations, determining that its preservation and relocation offered a more sustainable approach.

 

In concluding remarks, the panellists discussed the community value inherent in their retrofit projects. Often these properties have been in place for many years and therefore are key aspects of local communities. Exemplifying this is the Dao by Dorsett North London, which has breathed new life into the historic Hornsey Town Hall, revitalising both the structure and the Town Hall Square outside. This focus on community impact provided a fitting end to the panel discussion, highlighting the broader importance of retrofit initiatives.

 

From my perspective, the key takeaway from this event was about optimising the existing property, focusing on the heritage and characteristics of the building. All of the panellists’ journeys with their various hotel projects highlighted how different buildings can be enhanced in a variety of different ways.