Feldon Valley

Design Engine reveals new images of re-imagined Cotswolds gem

Design Engine have completed their ambitious scheme to redevelop Feldon Valley, with the final phase of works culminating in the opening of a new boutique hotel and four woodland lodges.

Situated in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 3 miles east of Shipston-on-Stour, Feldon Valley traces its origins to the early 1990s, when a group of enterprising local farmers and businessmen took the decision to convert agricultural land into a golf club. Originally called Brailes Golf Club, it was established in 1991 and opened in 1992.

A new private owner and his operators, 360 Partners, spent 3 years upgrading the course itself based on a strategy for sustained membership growth that would improve the club’s future viability - a sustainable business built on a mantra of Golf, Community & Nature. 

With course improvements complete, the owner commissioned Design Engine in 2014 to design a new hotel, woodland lodges, green keepers’ complex and a radical transformation of the 1990s clubhouse. Planning consent was achieved in 2016 and work started on site in 2017.

The scheme developed by Design Engine delivers the exacting brief requirements, with buildings designed for minimal impact on the site. The four different building genres are designed as a family, creating a scheme of architectural interest that complements the setting. There are three main elements:

• renovation and extension of existing clubhouse, with reconfigured interior and enhanced external terraces designed to allow members and hotel guests to make the most of its unique position in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The unique site levels allow for a fine dining restaurant, bar and lounges on the upper floor, accessed from the new car park, with the club house accommodation at golf course level on the floor below
• a new boutique hotel, comprising L-shaped 2-storey accommodation with central courtyard lawns
• four single-storey woodland lodges within the adjacent copse, providing rooms for up to 60 guests in an idyllic rural setting
• new replacement purpose-built greenkeeping facility, thereby freeing up space for a new ‘Ecology Island’ which includes a wildflower meadow, turf nursery, small fruit orchard and space for growing beds for the clubhouse kitchen to grow their own produce

A shared palette of natural weathering materials that are sympathetic to the natural setting of the Cotswolds AONB form a unifying feature of the scheme for Feldon Valley, helping to define a distinct local character and sense of identity, with this contextual material application helping to embed the buildings into the landscape setting.

Design Engine were appointed for the services of: masterplanning, architecture, interior design and wayfinding.  Indigo Landscape, Hoare Lea, Momentum and Selway Joyce completed the Design Team. 

Richard Rose-Casemore, Design Engine Founding Director, said, “It is a rare privilege to be commissioned for so many design disciplines on one project.  This has ensured a cohesive approach to landscape, architecture and interiors which this fabulous setting deserves.  The overwhelmingly positive response from Feldon Valley staff, members and guests since the opening has been great reward for a long and challenging project.”

Material Used :

1. Schueco glazing
2. Izit Design commercial furniture
3. Zeitraum timber furniture
4. Forza doors

Elevate's RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane has been used to help create a woodland haven for holiday makers, foodies and golfing enthusiasts at the prestigious ‘The Lodges at Feldon Valley’ Hotel in the Cotswolds, in the south of England.

The Lodges at Feldon Valley, which opened in spring 2019, is a unique leisure destination combining fine dining and luxury accommodation in the picturesque Cotswolds setting, surrounded by mature woodland and a prestigious golf course. The project consisted in the refurbishment and complete interior remodeling of the existing club house to create a fine dining restaurant and bar, along with construction of the main 13-guestroom lodge and four satellite lodges.

Why RubberGard EPDM?

Designed by architectural studio Design Engine to complement their natural setting, the smaller lodges are connected to the main building via a raised boardwalk and provide a secluded, natural and relaxing getaway destination with views of woodland and rolling countryside. The project’s lead architect, Amanda Moore, explains: "The client was very clear that the vision for the project was to create a hotel that complements the natural setting and makes use of natural materials, so the satellite lodges have been designed as a homogenous shape with natural timber cladding. We needed a waterproofing membrane that could encapsulate the battening system for the timber cladding on the pitched roof and Elevate’s RubberGard EPDM roofing system provided the ideal solution as it enabled much faster and simpler detailing to seal each batten and work with the pitch of the roof. Indeed, we have been so impressed with the system that we have since invited the company to deliver a CPD presentation to our design team."

Elevate Authorised Contractor Weatherfix FRS was appointed to carry out installation of the RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane on each of the four satellite lodges. The membrane was installed onto the roof of all four small lodges within just four days, enabling the main contractor to begin work on the interiors. The battens were then installed onto the completed roofing membrane and Weatherfix FRS began the process of carrying out the detailing for the 400+ battens on the roofs. Once the waterproofing had been completed, the timber cladding was installed to the roof and external walls.

Oliver Sweeney from Weatherfix FRS comments: "The level of detailing required to incorporate more than 400 battens into the waterproof roof surface meant that it would have been cost-prohibitive to use felt-based systems because installation would have been so labor-intensive. Conversely, the water-based adhesive, tapes and ease of detailing offered by the RubberGard EPDM system made the detailing much faster and easier to achieve. The only downside for our team is that our neat detailing is now completely obscured by the timber cladding. However, we know it’s there, doing its job, and, thanks to the extended service life of the RubberGard EPDM system, we also know that the Lodges at Feldon Valley can be confident the EPDM membrane will keep guests dry and cosy for years to come."

Why not get a real feel of our membrane? Order a free RubberGard EPDM material sample here.