The project is an Extension to the Glen Clova Hotel in Angus to create a New Multi-purpose Function suite. The site is located at the Glen Clova Hotel, approx. 20km North of Kirriemuir and on the verge of the Cairngorms National Park.

Voigt Architects were appointed in 2023 with a proposed brief for the function suite as follows:

  • New function suite with capacity for circa 150 guests
  • New bar area
  • Improved entrance to Hotel to allow access to main hotel and function suite
  • Outdoor terrace area for overspill of wedding venue
  • ‘Barn’ style aesthetic

The key consideration was to develop a large space that would sit comfortably with the existing building and not dominate the main hotel. The site also enjoys fabulous views to the South and East to the Clova hills. The new function suite sits alongside the existing hotel with a new parking area at the East.

The existing car park entrance will be blocked to allow access for pedestrians only, whilst a new path wrapping around the new building will connect the car park with the new front entrance and tie into the existing brick sett path at the front of the hotel. Some beech hedging will help to screen the parking from the new function suite, and the site topography further reduces the visual impact i.e. the parking level will be much lower than the main space.

It was also essential to retain the ‘walkers path’ at the south between 2 post and wire fences and this will be retained fully. A new ‘drop off’ area is formed at the front near to the front door and a set of stairs form a new improved formal entrance to the hotel and function suite.

A new glazed lobby provides the main entrance directly off the road (and new drop off area), which will tie in visually to the existing hotel. This allows wedding guests and hotel guests to go to the separate areas through this single entrance space. The new lobby area has been kept deliberately minimal with a shallow/flat roof to for a simple connection between the existing hotel Gable and the new function suite.

The main function suite space is placed above the entrance aligning with the rear of the existing hotel, with a south facing outdoor terrace area to enjoy both the sun and the views to the hills. A services zone was created at the west bay of the new building to accommodate a new lobby and WCS, storage area for the seating and a bar area at the NW corner. The bar includes an outside door that will allow food to be brought straight through to the new function suite from the existing hotel kitchen area.

Large areas of glazing at the south will open up via bi-folding doors to allow guests to spill onto the terrace and connect the internal space with the outdoors. A large glazed gable at the East will provide a feature to pick up the views along the hills. High level glazing on the North Elevation will allow more natural light into the space from the North.

Given the large number of Agricultural styled buildings in the local area (and in rural Angus) a low pitch metal clad structure was proposed that would allow for the ‘barn style’ venue inside. The roof would then continue to overhang to provide a small cover to the outdoor terrace. Rooflights on the external canopy will allow this space to be covered whilst receiving natural light, which will also brighten the internal space. The metal colour would be dark grey to complement the existing hotel slate roof.

Internally the building will have a timber floor and ceiling, with a feature stone wall exposed internally at the rear/North wall. The chimney will be clad in stone to provide a feature internally and a focal point for any wedding ceremony.