The Lake Country House Hotel

Client: The Lake Country House Hotel

Location: Llangammarch Wells, Powys

Originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge in 1840, The Lake Country House Hotel is set in 50 acres of Welsh parkland. In order to attract additional visitors a new purpose-built health and fitness centre and spa was commissioned from Pinelog. To add to the hotel's ability to increase business, the owner also commissioned Pinelog to build a block of 12 additional guest suites.

Pinelog's design is a building of timber frame construction, faced externally with mock Tudor half timbers and coloured render to match the existing hotel. It has a 30^o pitch roof finished in natural slate. Each suite is accessed by decks which command views of the golf course. Meetings with relevant conservation and planning authorities at an early stage ensured that the plans were passed with only minor modifications. Welsh Tourist Board grants were obtained by the client to assist with the new project.

Throughout the construction of the project the hotel remained operational and Pinelog was able to minimise disruption to both hotel guests and staff.

Compared to a building of traditional construction, on-going energy costs will be reduced. Wood is a highly effective insulating material and the Rockwool wall insulation used has superb thermal properties too. The frame is manufactured from pressure treated redwood from sustainable resources and a biodisc self-contained sewage treatment sysem is used rather than septic tanks.

To ensure a high level of sound insulation the walls are double skinned with additional glass fibre quilt insulation trapped between the layers. Similarly, the floors are triple skinned and sound insulated in the same way. Acoustic levels within the hotel rooms are well below those demanded by Building Regulations.

The hotel's owner said "Pinelog was able to complete the project on time and on budget, whilst minimising disturbance. We are delighted with the results."