Designed by Aedas Interiors, Twr y Felin Hotel in St. David’s Pembrokeshire region, Wales, UK, opened its door to welcome guests as a bespoke luxury retreat and destination. It is the third regeneration project of the client, Retreats Group, which aims to rejuvenate the Wales community by respectfully restoring and transforming the historical and much-loved buildings into luxury, boutique hotels. The other two hotels Roch Castle Hotel and Penrhiw Hotel are also designed and reformed by Aedas Interiors.
Aedas Interiors work exclusively with Retreats Group in creating bespoke designs. The re-establishment of the rich-history architectures in the local Wales community as historical keepsakes and restored relics of the community has not only provided an influx of tourism to the town, but also produced several annual -term positions for the local workforce.
Roch Castle Hotel, Penrhiw Hotel and the newly-open Twr y Felin Hotel adapt the Group’s core ‘Modernity in an old fabric’ and have developed a signature style through bespoke furnishings with an overall luxurious décor that establishes a timeless quality and a sense of exclusive sanctum.
‘We worked with the existing awkwardly shaped and sized room configurations and considered the preservation of original architectural elements including the bronze traceried windows, original wood and stone flooring. The designs drew strongly on the relationship from the exterior landscape to the interior space with the use of colour palette and textures which were inspired by the outdoor setting of Wales,’ said Greg Farrell, Executive Director at Aedas Interiors who is based in Hong Kong. Three hotels are externally restored to their original grandeur and juxtaposed within the luscious modern bespoke interiors.
Re-established from a historical windmill tower first built in 1802, Twr y Felin Hotel is the first ‘Art Hotel’ in Wales, designed in a contemporary flair with over 100 pieces of original artworks from urban artists Phil Ashcroft, Xenz, Remi, Rough, Mr jago, Pure Evil and Harry Adams which are inspired by the St. Davids peninsula and Pembrokeshire to provide unique experience of arts and culture. The hotel possesses spectacular 360 degree views of the St. Davids Peninsula, offering 19 en-suite bedrooms, 2 suites and a restaurant with a delicate gallery lounge.
Roch Castle Hotel is restored from Roch Castle which was built in 1195 as home to conquerors and courtesans and experienced Civil War. Also adapted the corporate retreat, the design incorporated modern inserts of high-quality minimal custom furniture and porcelains, a literal installation of modernity into the old castle. Sitting close to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the hotel provides 6 en-suite bedrooms, a private kitchen and a new glass-enclosed Sun Room which offers a transformative stunning space of indoor-outdoor and frames magnificent panoramic views of the Irish Sea, St. David’s Peninsula and the mountains of Wales.
Penrhiw Hotel is within exclusive grounds minutes from St. Davids Cathedral. This current Grade 2 listed house was erected in 1882 with Caerbwidi stone and Bathstone as a priory. After restoration, the hotel has 7 luxury en-suite bedrooms with art pieces, furniture and ornaments inspired by local landscapes, coastline, beaches and grass fields, creating a modern luxury within a historical landmark.
All restoration work and labour were commissioned to be delivered by the local workers of Wales. The design team also managed to source as many materials locally as possible. Tailor-made furniture and artworks from local artists are incorporated with purpose and design intent specific to each hotel that embodies the cultural reference and tells the story of the local heritage of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Allergy-free and chemical-free materials and fabrics were used in the interiors. Natural wood and wood oils were carefully selected with sensitivity toward the emission of toxic VOC’s from the materials. Bath amenities also were selected with attention to non-allergenic products for guests.
All three hotels are well received and named including ‘The Big Six: British castle stay’ by The Independent, ’10 of the best cool new hotels in Wales’ by The Guardian and within the Cool Hotel Guide by the Times, as well as featured on various media such as WalesOnline, BBC News and The Little Great Places Guide.