Transforming Exeter’s Grade II Listed Eye Hospital into a Landmark Hotel
The project comprises the refurbishment and development of the second of three hotels re-launched as a new brand. We designed the reconfiguration of the Grade II listed former Eye hospital in Exeter to create a 59-bed hotel with restaurant, bar and spa as well as designing interiors and commissioning artworks for the hotel. The project is an amalgam of mini-projects including new buildings, extensions, repairs and alterations.
Praised for its blend of old and new, creating a stunning contemporary hotel with service and quality of the highest standard
Food & Travel Magazine Readers Award: City Hotel of the Year
Seamless Integration of Old and New
The infill courtyard blurs the boundary between the hotel interior and garden, with rooflights, sliding glass doors, and slate flooring flowing in from the terrace. This outdoor room features the new spa and pool as a backdrop, framed by formal planting. The new brick spa and health suite complement the scale of the 18th-century laundry building, all connected by the Oval Path, which encircles a lawn and enhances the restaurant and terrace views.
Each of the 59 bedrooms has a tailored storage and furniture layout, with bespoke bathrooms ensuring a cohesive hotel identity.
Revitalising a Landmark for the Future
This redevelopment exemplifies a sensitive approach to adaptive reuse, celebrating the site’s rich history while enhancing the guest experience with contemporary design. By preserving architectural details and integrating new structures harmoniously, the project breathes new life into the former Eye Hospital, ensuring its legacy continues as a destination for modern hospitality.