This hotel conversion project transformed Merevale House, a vacant 1960s courthouse building, into a contemporary hospitality destination through the sensitive refurbishment and extension of the existing structure.
Central to the design approach was the retention and adaptation of the original concrete frame, delivering a sustainable reuse strategy while overcoming the technical complexities associated with integrating modern hotel accommodation, servicing requirements and a new rooftop extension within an existing building fabric.
Client
Premier Inn
Sector
Hotel
Location
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Ward
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Status
Completed
The architectural concept was informed by the site’s history and the former Tweedale Terrace, a distinctive Victorian terrace that occupied the site prior to the construction of Merevale House. The existing building was widely regarded as an incongruous and visually dominant element within the conservation area, characterised by its horizontal massing, undercroft parking and limited relationship to the surrounding townscape. In response, the design reinterpreted key features of Tweedale Terrace, introducing articulated brick façades, vertically proportioned windows, gabled bays, dormers and a more traditional roofscape to restore a stronger connection with the architectural vernacular of London Road.
The completed scheme significantly enhances the building’s contribution to the streetscape and its relationship with neighbouring heritage assets. Through the reconfiguration of the ground floor, improvements to the public realm and the careful refinement of scale, massing and materiality, the development replaces a dated and underutilised structure with a landmark hotel that respects its historic context while delivering a high-quality contemporary destination for Tunbridge Wells
