UK: Union Hanover has submitted plans for a £35 million waterside Urban Villa hotel in central Edinburgh.
The 180-unit project on Freer Street at Fountainbridge, by the Union Canal Basin, consists of studios, one bedroom and rooftop penthouse suites, designed by New York-based architect Grzywinski + Pons in association with Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects.
Managing director Eric Jafari said: “We are very passionate about creating a destination hotel for Edinburgh. The designs pay homage to Edinburgh’s cultural fabric of elegance while infusing elements of sexy Manhattan feel.”
Jafari described Urban Villa as a “boutique all-suites hotel” which is a new concept for the UK but it is much more common in other parts of Europe, Asia and the US.
Union Hanover and Urban Villa co-founder Andrew Fowler added: The location identifies extremely well with the brand philosophy of Urban Villa; the Urban and edgy tones of our common areas and front of house reflecting the culturally rich and redeveloping areas of the Union Canal & Basin contrasting with the Villa decadence of our Suites mirroring the modern and developed corporate west end area of Edinburgh. It’s this balance of design integrating modern luxury with the cultural heritage of each of our properties locations that allows each Urban Villa hotel to offer a unique hospitality experience while offering consistent values, facilities and service”.
Paul Heap, managing director of Amco Developments, the project’s development manager said: “The design team has worked tirelessly to enable delivery of the Urban Villa vision and we’re all very excited to be in for planning and hoping to start on site in Spring 2015.”
unionhanover.com</p
