Leonardo Hotel

This prominent city centre site has been derelict since the demolition of the Guardian Royal Exchange Building in 2010. Historically an industrial location, the site is next to a listed 18th century terrace to the east and a key vehicle artery to the west.

We worked closely with the client to create a new, Bristol-centric identity for Leonardo Hotels. The brand aims to maintain a consistently high level of quality across all locations, establishing a distinctive "Leonardo Hotels" atmosphere. The 197-bedroom hotel is situated on a site rich in industrial history, which is infused into the design of each space. It was essential that the hotel connected with the broader Temple Quarter masterplan and became an integral part of the Distillery development.

We collaborated with the hotel group and Royal London Asset Management on the development and concept for this hotel. We designed each space - from reception, bar, and restaurant to communal corridors, bedrooms, and en-suites - fine-tuning the balance between a refined hotel atmosphere and an industrial edge. This balance was achieved through careful attention to detail in joinery, materials, and finishes, blended with well-articulated exposed services. AWW delivered both the architecture and interior design from concept to completion.

Two years into the project, there was a change in brand which necessitated a significant change in concept. During construction, we also faced the impact of the Covid pandemic. We have successfully negotiated these obstacles, working closely with the project team to ensure both the safety of all involved and the quality of the design, with construction continuing throughout this period.