We were asked to create proposals for holiday apartments for a site within central York's conservation area. An existing two-storey former restaurant, now derelict, currently fills the site but is in a poor state of disrepair and is generally detrimental to the street.

The existing derelict restaurant is itself an infil between neighbouring historic buildings, however its façade treatment, scale, and massing are at odds with the historic streetscape.

The proposal had to navigate the strict planning requirements of York’s Central Historic Core conservation area. It was important not to affect views from across the Ouse.

Working within the tight constraints of the site, which is irregular and surrounded by existing buildings on three sides, we proposed a four storey set of apartments for holiday lets.

The pitched roof form blends the new construction in with its surrounding when viewed from afar, while a more contemporary face is presented to the street.

We propose to keep and reuse the existing concrete frame of the restaurant, and to extend the building upwards with a lightweight timber structure above.