LBA convert holding cells and courthouse into pod hostel
– Lynsay Bell Manson
LBA have created a pod hostel in a listed building that was originally designed as police chambers with holding cells and courtroom facilities.
Called 1a Parliament Square after its location in Edinburgh’s Old Town, the project was commissioned by Code, a hostel operator that accommodates its guests in sleep pods.
LBA managing director Lynsay Bell Manson said: "It was clear from the early stages of the project that the building’s unique history would play a key part in the hostel guest experience.
"We allowed the historic use pattern and materiality to define the design, playing on the concept of spending the night in jail. We were able to turn a challenging layout and a harsh material palette into positives, emphasising the hostel’s heritage aspect."
Although the building had been updated over the years, the uses and proportions of its rooms had largely remained the same.
LBA was keen to avoid changes to the building itself, which was first constructed between 1845 and 1849, and to preserve and enhance its existing character.
The original entrance door was recreated and the entrance hall restored to its original proportions.
Blocked up windows have been reinstated and repairs to the outside of the building traditionally detailed.
Inside, modifications and additions have been stripped back to the original finishes, with graffiti and other original wall markings retained for authenticity.
Where LBA carried out new work, it was made conspicuously modern to mark it out as such against the more historic fabric of the building.
The original layout was also retained, with the uses of different spaces simply redefined.
Due to the intended purpose of the building, rooms range from very small with little in the way of natural light to very large congregating spaces like the original courtrooms.
The varied configuration of spaces was actually well-suited to hostel use, allowing for different sizes of guestroom and for private and communal accommodation.
Vaulted cells with heavy-duty stainless steel doors and industrial “handwheel” handles were retained, allowing guests to spend the night in former cells.
Cells were fitted with Code's sleep pods, which are designed to give guests more privacy than bunks and each features USB sockets, an LED reading light, hooks and a shelf.
Original vaulted walls remain in various locations throughout the building, while public spaces like the entrance foyer and breakfast room use the original courtroom bench seating, with painted bare walls and wall panelling.
hostel LBA EdinburghAman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
From flooding old shopping malls to revolutionising housing, MVRDV’s founders like to do things differently