The reception extension forms part of the wider accommodation offer at the hall. The client identified the need for a new reception space to provide a welcoming arrival experience for guests staying on site. The space is also designed to function as a breakfast room, helping to relieve pressure on the events space. The proposals were therefore developed with flexibility of use in mind.

The site is an enclosed yard, forming an extension of one of two courtyards created by the historic Grade II* listed stable block. Bounded on all four sides, the site sits between two historic buildings to the east and west, which form part of the wider stable block complex. To the east lies a stabling range identified as one of the most significant buildings on the estate. Historic stone boundary walls enclose the site to the north and south, with the outer courtyard accessed via a large pair of timber gates.

Working within such a sensitive historic setting, the design needed to avoid any significant impact on the surrounding historic buildings, achieved through a subservient architectural approach, while still delivering a memorable first impression for visitors.

This was realised through a contemporary glazed structure that sits lightly between the historic buildings, preserving the sense of the space as an extension of the external courtyard rather than an enclosed interior. This effect is reinforced through the retention of existing exposed surfaces and the extension of the external Yorkshire stone paving into the interior.

The new building also provides internal circulation linking the surrounding historic structures. This required close collaboration with heritage consultant Donald Insall to identify and reinstate a number of former historic openings within the stable block.

client: L Kilburn

contractor: Artium

architect: brown + company

structures: Alan Wood Associates

mep: Orbis