Château de Fère-en-Tardenois
The Owner of this listed château planned to transform it from its existing use as an exclusive 24 bedroom 5 star hotel and restaurant to a 150 bedroom hotel with a health spa, conference and leisure facilities, and an 18 hole golf course.
In consultation with the local 'Architecte des Bâtiments de France' (the state official responsible for vetting work to listed buildings), and at the behest of S'International, the firm in charge of the overall project, I developed a design which endeavoured to reconcile the requirements of this ambitious brief with the qualities of the existing hotel/restaurant. It was important that the new development should not erode the aspects of the existing set up which until then had attracted an albeit small but special and faithful clientèle.
Whilst avoiding the use of pastiche in the architectural treatment of the new buildings, the design takes great care in integrating the existing and the new, and in responding to the topography of the site. The existing building is a compilation of many alterations and extensions over the years, and this latest scheme was viewed as being a continuation of this precedent.
The project has been shelved for the time being, but when the circumstances are right, the owner hopes to revive it .
