Premier Inn, Peterborough

The design brief focused on creating a ‘gateway’ building on a prominent location to assist in the regeneration of the area. There were however multiple key site constraints. Limitations included the island nature of the site, which is encircled by a gyratory road system and the building height, which is restricted to protect views of the Cathedral. Planning permissions meant that the view of Peterborough Cathedral could not be blocked from the adjacent bridge, which presented the challenge of balancing both the requirements of the hotel brief and a sensitive response to the context of the site.

Saunders Boston Architects achieved their vision by designing a simple and stylish hotel, using the Carsington Cream brick for the facade, with complimentary white decorative facing brick recesses around the windows. The chosen brick colours provide the building with an ‘earthy’ palette of natural cream tones that allows it to blend into the peaceful surroundings. An inverted corner, with a cantilevering brise soleil and full height glazing to the ground on the site frontage, creates an attractive feature and increases visual interest, whilst allowing views from the café and restaurant to the River Nene.