Chris Palmer, a Comrie based Landscape Architect approached me to design & build some walling that was required for his landscape proposals when Crieff Hydro Hotel was carrying out an upgrade on their main entrance. The hotel is built on a steep slope and increasing the foyer area of the hotel meant that there was the requirement to create some walling that would retain a cutting that was being done to increase parking spaces in front of the hotel, This new area would become a very important public space for the hotel and it’s visitors and my task along side the Landscape architects was to design an attractive scheme that would enhance the visitors experience.
A national institution, Crieff Hydro has a great reputation for family friendly holidays, built in the 1860’s it commands spectacular views across Highland Perthshire. My aim was to design my walling so that seating & sculpture were integral parts of the scheme. I placed a series of square planned tapering pillars at strategic ends of walling runs and then for the coursing of the walls I proposed a series of fan patterning. Seating is made from hardwood beams secured within the walls onto a frame that goes right down to the foundations, the wood looks to be cantilevered out of the wall but is actually only just into the stonework – this will allow for its replacement at a future date when required.