Published: 19 July 2012
Lotherton Hall has turned to our BA(Hons) Interior Design students for some fresh ideas to breathe life back into their stables area and first floor area above the cafe and toilets.
Stately homes nationwide are going through a period of intense modernisation, exemplified by hit Channel 4 show Country House Rescue. Lotherton Hall is no exception and is planning a staged regeneration of the site including a new road and sewer system. They have realised that the stables and the first floor area above the café and toilets, which currently stand unused, represent a prime opportunity for development into an exciting, multi-purpose space.
To contribute to the regeneration project, Maria Akers Estate Manger at Lotherton Hall approached our year two BA(Hons) Interior Design students to pitch their design ideas for the redevelopment of this space. Year Tutor Pat Oliver at Leeds College of Art cherry picked the six best proposals to be pitched live to Maria, the most successful pitch would win a placement with Jayne Beasley at the Building Surveyors department in Leeds City Council.
Maria Akers said: ‘I was very impressed by the standard of work produced by the students, I was torn between the work of Luke McGinnity and Ewa Makaruk, their work was very different but both designs reflected the heritage of the buildings original use, which is very important for us to preserve. Luke’s design is very masculine and strongly echoed the stables by featuring leather, heavy stitching and cast iron finishing.’
She continued: ‘Ewa’s work couldn’t have been more different, she introduced a garden shop idea which was light and spacious whilst retaining the original stable beams, she also carried through the Edwardian kitchen feel we already have in the cafe.’
Unable to decide on an overall winner, Maria announced Luke and Ewa as joint winners, both taking up a placement in Leeds City Council. To honour the students contribution to the regeneration project Lotherton is hanging the work of the six finalists in its gallery, the exhibition goes on display from 25 July until 31 October 2012. The names of the other shortlisted student are Alison Duggan, Ana Baptista, Charlotte Schofield and Georgia Harkell.