Press Release

MIDLAND HOTEL, MORECAMBE WINS THE CROWN ESTATE CONSERVATION AWARD

17 October 2009

The Midland Hotel in Morecambe, by Union North architects, has won The Crown Estate Conservation Award 2009.

The prize is awarded to the best work of conservation which demonstrates successful restoration or adaptation of an architecturally significant building. The announcement was made on Saturday 17 October at a special awards ceremony for the RIBA Stirling Prize at Old Billingsgate, London.

The Midland Hotel renovation has restored the glory of an original design by Oliver Hill and added a layer of lively contemporary design, resurrecting and making relevant a much loved regional landmark.

Union North has carefully upgraded and repaired the existing fabric, preserving important historic features. Re-organising the interior of the hotel and adding discrete extensions has provided a modern efficient and functional hotel environment without losing the character of the existing building. Interior spaces have been developed with flair and originality to create a range of remarkable public spaces, as well as stylish contemporary bedrooms.

The specialist conservation judges were particularly impressed by the adoption of a creative and intelligent approach to the conservation of a major Modern Movement building. This, they commented, was reflected in, “the retention and reinstatement of the most significant qualities and features of the original building, and the introduction of explicitly new work, and the use of sympathetic polymer render incorporating three type of glass to make it sparkle in the sun.”

The Midland Hotel renovation has allowed for two new additions, a replacement sun room with floor to ceiling glazing which forms the dining room and a glazed rooftop extension which are both beautifully completed. The interiors are done with an unashamedly broad brush – both contemporary and populist. The result, after a seven and a half year wait, is a hotel which is bucking the recessionary trend and packing in both returning and new visitors to the hotel and to the town.

Roger Bright, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, said: “The Midland Hotel represents a re-interpretation of the original architect’s intentions in the light of the commercial needs of the client and the regeneration needs of a this seaside town. We are delighted that such a worthy contender is to receive The Crown Estate Conservation Award for 2009.”