Heritage · Hotel gardens & courtyards
Giraffe Hall, Kent
RIBA Stage 3 landscape design for the redevelopment of a 15th-century Wealden Hall House into a luxury hotel set within historic parkland.
Project overview
Sensitive landscape design for a historic Wealden Hall transformation
The project involved developing RIBA Stage 3 landscape proposals for the conversion of a 15th-century Wealden Hall House into an exclusive hotel. The site, rich with heritage character and mature landscape features, required a thoughtful and highly sensitive approach to ensure the new visitor facilities complemented the historic setting.
Working closely with Marian Boswall Landscape Architects, the landscape design contributed to a wider vision of immersive guest experiences, arrival sequences, garden rooms and views across the surrounding parkland. The landscape needed to accommodate new circulation, parking and amenity spaces without diminishing the authenticity and charm of the original Wealden architecture.
Tags
Heritage landscape Hotel & hospitality Garden rooms Sensitive restoration Visitor experience
Project snapshot
- Client
- The Aspinall Foundation (via Marian Boswall Landscape Architects)
- Location
- Kent
- Scope
- RIBA Stage 3 landscape plans for heritage hotel conversion, including arrival, garden areas and circulation.
- Key elements
- Arrival courtyard, structured planting, terraces, garden rooms, heritage-sensitive materials, views and vistas.
The challenge
Honouring heritage while creating a functional luxury hotel landscape
The 15th-century Wealden Hall House held significant architectural and cultural value, demanding a landscape approach that prioritised conservation and authenticity. Introducing modern hotel requirements such as access, parking, and outdoor amenity risked overpowering the building's historic character if not handled with care.
The challenge was to enhance the guest experience while working within tight constraints imposed by the setting, existing fabric, and protected features. Subtlety, proportion, and careful material choice were essential to ensure the landscape felt like a natural extension of the historic estate.
Outcomes
A refined and sympathetic response to a historic estate
Understanding the site’s heritage layers
Historic plans, architectural details, materials and vegetation were studied to identify the defining characteristics of the Wealden Hall setting. This analysis shaped how new paths, gardens and terraces could sit comfortably within the existing landscape.
Creating garden rooms and guest-focused spaces
A series of outdoor spaces were developed — intimate garden rooms, structured planting beds and quiet seating areas — designed to offer guests varied experiences throughout their stay. Planting choices were informed by local vernacular and seasonal interest.
Integrating modern hotel functions discreetly
Circulation routes, parking and service areas were carefully positioned and screened to minimise visual impact. Materials and detailing were selected to echo the historic palette while providing modern performance.