A modern aparthotel with a medieval-inspired design will open this month.
The 46-suite hotel in Micklegate, which has been designed by leading York architects brown + company, features self-contained apartment units that are aimed at people having longer stays in York.
It is being operated by SuperCity, which already has similar aparthotels in London, Manchester, Leeds, Brighton and Edinburgh.
Roger Walters, founder and chairman of SuperCity, says 12.5 full-time and four part-time jobs will be created by the new hotel.
The company initially viewed a site at the former gasworks site in Heworth Green but opted for Micklegate as the firm wanted a location within York’s city walls.
Mr Walters said he felt there were few options for business people to make their temporary base while staying in York for longer periods, despite the city’s high number of short-term let properties.
He also hopes the new aparthotel’s city centre location – walking distance from the railway station – will encourage people to stay in York while working nearby, which will help boost the city economy.
He said SuperCity decided to open in Micklegate after being attracted to York’s high visitor footfall, but feeling there was a gap in the market for people staying in the city while working.
“It’s going to bring in a bit more permanency to the visitors, so people will hang around for a few days rather than come in and out of York,” he said.
Mr Walters said the aparthotel will also offer rooms to people on shorter breaks in the city, such as tourists.
Initially due to open in 2023, the aparthotel was delayed by almost a year after part of York’s original medieval wall was found at the site.
The site had to be excavated with archaeologists finding items which dated back to the Roman period.
Rooftop views
Blossom Street-based architects brown + company have worked on major York developments such as Coney Street Riverside and the remodelling of the campus at St Peter’s School.
The aparthotel’s surroundings were a key influence on its medieval-inspired design.
During the medieval period, a substantial Benedictine Priory dominated the south-east side of the street, while, over time, the north-west side evolved to accommodate the elegant Georgian townhouses that remain today.
The aparthotel design drew inspiration from the medieval jettied timber-framed buildings that once occupied the south-east side of Micklegate.
The scheme also carefully considered rooftop views from York’s historic city walls, as well as key viewpoints along Micklegate itself.
Because brown + company is based in York, the team feel their local perspective has given them a vested interest in doing something that’s quite special for the city.
They worked with Manchester architects Leach Rhodes Walker who helped resolved some of the technical challenges.
Each aparthotel suite has its own art collection and original artifacts uncovered during the building’s development.
Mr Walters said: “Our design team have worked very closely with the team at brown + company. The original exterior was agreed with the City of York Council after careful deliberation to make the building form blend in with the character of York.
“It has been a pleasure to work with brown + company. They have supported us throughout the construction and planning stages.”
