In 2023, Hillcrest embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation.
Years of exposure to the elements, vacancy, and extensive deterioration had taken a significant toll on the estate. What followed was a thoughtful transformation that preserved its historic character while integrating modern hospitality design, preparing it for a new chapter as a contemporary boutique hotel.
⚜ To cater to the needs of the modern traveller, the guest rooms in this historic property restoration required integrated storage solutions. Closets were introduced using lighter construction methods, allowing this functionality to be added without placing unnecessary load on the historic structure. The rooms sit within the original stone structure of the property, benefiting from the depth and mass of its historic 12-inch stone wall construction, a perfect blend of modern hospitality design and property rehabilitation.
⚜ To support year-round comfort and consistent interior conditions in this historic property restoration, climate control was strategically introduced throughout the building. Modern hospitality design principles guided the application of interior wall finishes and insulation, enabling effective air conditioning, managing humidity, and supporting a stable internal environment within a property of this age, enhancing its overall property rehabilitation.
The original windows were retained as part of the property’s historic character, essential for its historic property restoration. In the context of modern hospitality design, these features support interior climate stability, as they are not relied upon for regular ventilation.
A single, light neutral palette was introduced across the exterior to unify the building visually, allowing proportion, form, and detail to take precedence over colour variation in this historic property restoration. The historic stone envelope of the property remains unchanged, embodying the essence of modern hospitality design while ensuring the integrity of property rehabilitation.
Beyond the historic property restoration itself, the grounds were enhanced to support modern hospitality design. Additions such as the swimming pool and outdoor amenities were introduced as secondary elements, remaining visually and structurally subordinate to the property rehabilitation efforts of the historic site.
The property rehabilitation approach has led to a historic property restoration that maintains the strength and character of its original construction while seamlessly integrating modern hospitality design for comfortable and elegant functionality in the present.