Views of an Art Deco Hotel

                 I love the elegance of Art Deco,  an inter-war years design revolution which took in everything from  fashion to architecture and this is my favourite building. This hotel was designed by Oliver Hill in  'streamline-moderne' style with both the interior and exterior featuring  sculptures and paintings by Eric Gill. It was erected in 1933 when travel by rail and style meant something. Note Hill's attention to detail which extends right down to the shape of the chain posts on the garden wall, the lamp posts and the curves in the terrace walls. Sadly, the current  owners have marred its classic style with an ugly penthouse extension in grey concrete and glass on  what used to be an extensive roof terrace giving unprecedented views of  Morecambe Bay.

Nice pictures Mythocentric. You've done a good job at hiding the ugly roof addition. It would certainly be an interesting building to model for those with the space n their layout to do it justice.

David

Hi David and thank you! I must admit its been a long time favourite and high on my list of buildings to model, along with the medieval St. Peters Church at Heysham. I did ask the owners if drawings were available to work from after explaining my reason for enquiring. Sadly they declined 'for security reasons'. Neither have I been able to photograph Eric Gills beautiful interior paintings. I did enquire at the front desk one day and promptly found myself being escorted from the building by security. Heaven knows what would happen if I turned up with a tape measure!:It's a no no

Great photos of a very interesting subject there. Nice!
:thumbs

You might be able to get hold of drawings from the local council building control or planning departments. They would have had to submit drawings for the extensions. They then become part of the public record and you should therefore be able to look at them at least.
David

Hi David

That is my next step although given some of the strange responses received by other researchers from Lancaster Council I'm going to wait until I've approached them. Like most of the country, older records are now kept by the local Museum/Library and should be made available for public scrutiny. However I'm aware of one group who are modelling Green Ayre station who asked for material to be made available who were turned down point-blank with the excuse that there was no one available to look for them. The offer to send along two of their own (very experienced) researchers to assist was also refused!

Hi,
it's hard to fathom the attitudes of some local authorities and companies in the UK to a legitimate request for some information about a building. I hope you manage to get hold of something in the historical records.
regards
David