This 144-bedroom Holiday Inn Express hotel sits on the prominent gateway site at the entrance of Cambourne. The hotel is divided into two distinct wings, which sit at an oblique angle to each other. The plan of the hotel mirrors the townscape. The wings align with Back Lane and De La Warr Way which border the site.
The height of the building varies across the site with the De La Warr (Way) wing sitting at three storeys. The smaller Back Lane wing is a storey taller and acts as a prominent marker when arriving in the town.
Compact public areas, which still allow flow during peak times, were carefully designed. The hotel features a stylish lobby and bar, a bright meeting room and a restaurant.
Ica’s architecture and interior design teams worked closely with the client to unlock the space’s full potential. Elements were drawn from the vernacular of the region. The use of brick is especially important to the design as this is widely used across the county of Cambridgeshire and in the city of Cambridge itself. Forterra’s Carsington Cream brick, which has been used to complement and contrast with other materials on the building, echoes the limestone in the construction of many of the area’s heritage buildings. Queens College and Jesus College are prominent examples of this material palette.
Attention was given to little details to make the building blend in and stand out all at the same time – pitched roof, split gable and grouped windows are some of the elements that make this possible.
