Meridian Gate, Cardiff
Encyclopedia
Meridian Gate is a hotel and residential skyscraper complex in Cardiff
, Wales
. Meridian Gate comprises two buildings, the taller of which is 63 metres high, has 21 floors and contains the largest hotel in Cardiff, operated by Radisson Blu. It is the joint-fifth tallest building in Cardiff. The smaller building is 33 metres high, has 11 floors and contains luxury apartments.
Meridian Gate is a result of the trend for city living that is driving a construction boom in many major British centres.
The building topped out
in mid-2008.
was placed on an elevated stone plinth. Parking provision was low, given the central location, with 40 spaces allocated for residents, and 35 for the hotel based on different levels on an anticipation that 80% of hotel users use public transport.
The hotel tower has a glazed curtain walling with solar reflective glass and aluminium projecting fins. The intention was to broadly follow the finishes and colours on Callaghan Square and Kingsway. The gull wing or butterfly roof feature on top of the tower were added to give it more distinction.
Cardiff Council
welcomed the slimness of the tower and the increased glazing which creates a strong focal point in the cityscape. They wanted to see a distinctive roof feature to add to the landmark nature of the building. The quality of the detailed design was critical for the scheme’s success, and will be conditioned. High quality materials were required, and the precast concrete panelling was therefore of some concern. The Council required a financial contribution towards repaving the southern side of Bute Terrace and the Highways Department also required a contribution towards a pedestrian crossing on Bute Terrace.
building, another of Cardiff's tallest buildings. Consequently a slight improvement in the spacing between the westernmost wing of the Altolusso and the new residential tower was made.
The street frontages to Bute Street and Bute Terrace were eencouraged to be designed to animate the public open space in front of the hotel entrance, which should become a genuine public amenity. The hotel operators also wanted a vibrant street frontage and the designer considered that the -storey glazed entrance lobby helped to achieve this.
The planners were criticised for not carrying out wind tunnel testing
prior to submitting the application.
The hotel has two bars and a restaurant, as well as a health spa featuring a sauna, steam room, relaxation room, and seven treatment rooms on the second floor.
6 meeting rooms are provided by the hotel as well as The Azzurro Ballroom with a capacity of 350. The pre-conference area has a capacity of 150.
, and a 5 minute drive from Cardiff Bay
. Cardiff Central Station
is a 5 minute walk from Meridian Gate. Cardiff International Airport
is located 15 miles (24.1 km) from the building and can be reached by bus, train or taxi.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Meridian Gate comprises two buildings, the taller of which is 63 metres high, has 21 floors and contains the largest hotel in Cardiff, operated by Radisson Blu. It is the joint-fifth tallest building in Cardiff. The smaller building is 33 metres high, has 11 floors and contains luxury apartments.
Meridian Gate is a result of the trend for city living that is driving a construction boom in many major British centres.
History
The building was proposed in early 2004, obtaining planning consent shortly afterwards. A full application was submitted in 2006 after a change of developer. The site was bought by Radisson Blu, a major international hotel group requiring a prime site in central Cardiff for an upmarket hotel and a 36-unit residential element.The building topped out
Topping out
In building construction, topping out is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure, or an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried in...
in mid-2008.
Architecture and design
The public open space is a mix of hard and soft landscaping, and the courtyards at podium level are provided for the use of residents only. The Barcelona lights were retained but moved, and a statue of Jim DriscollJim Driscoll
James "Jim" Driscoll commonly known as Peerless Jim was a Welsh boxer who learned his trade in the boxing ring and used it to fight his way out of poverty....
was placed on an elevated stone plinth. Parking provision was low, given the central location, with 40 spaces allocated for residents, and 35 for the hotel based on different levels on an anticipation that 80% of hotel users use public transport.
The hotel tower has a glazed curtain walling with solar reflective glass and aluminium projecting fins. The intention was to broadly follow the finishes and colours on Callaghan Square and Kingsway. The gull wing or butterfly roof feature on top of the tower were added to give it more distinction.
Cardiff Council
Cardiff Council
The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Principal Areas of Wales. The council consists of 75 councillors, representing 29 electoral wards. The authority is properly styled as The County Council of the City and County of Cardiff or in...
welcomed the slimness of the tower and the increased glazing which creates a strong focal point in the cityscape. They wanted to see a distinctive roof feature to add to the landmark nature of the building. The quality of the detailed design was critical for the scheme’s success, and will be conditioned. High quality materials were required, and the precast concrete panelling was therefore of some concern. The Council required a financial contribution towards repaving the southern side of Bute Terrace and the Highways Department also required a contribution towards a pedestrian crossing on Bute Terrace.
Review recommendation
A concern of the review panel of Design Commission for Wales was that the building needed to respect the height of the neighbouring AltolussoAltolusso
Altolusso is a residential skyscraper in Cardiff, Wales. The building is 72 metres high and has 23 floors.The tower was the tallest residential building in Wales upon its completion in 2005, and remains one of the tallest buildings in Cardiff and in Wales.The Y-shaped building contains 292 luxury...
building, another of Cardiff's tallest buildings. Consequently a slight improvement in the spacing between the westernmost wing of the Altolusso and the new residential tower was made.
The street frontages to Bute Street and Bute Terrace were eencouraged to be designed to animate the public open space in front of the hotel entrance, which should become a genuine public amenity. The hotel operators also wanted a vibrant street frontage and the designer considered that the -storey glazed entrance lobby helped to achieve this.
The planners were criticised for not carrying out wind tunnel testing
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
prior to submitting the application.
Hotel interior
Distinction Contract was responsible for the supply and installation of the furniture and equipment, carpeting and soft furnishing, for all front of house areas, lobby, bar and restaurant, the meeting & events area, and the bedrooms, the latter of which has three designs: fresh, fashion and chic.Hotel facilities
The hotel offers 215 rooms a spread over 21 floors. As the tallest hotel in the city, rooms come with large windows that offer panoramic views of the city. Rooms include 60 Business Class rooms, 12 Junior suites and 11 accessible rooms. Rooms are decorated in three different styles; chic, fashion and fresh.The hotel has two bars and a restaurant, as well as a health spa featuring a sauna, steam room, relaxation room, and seven treatment rooms on the second floor.
6 meeting rooms are provided by the hotel as well as The Azzurro Ballroom with a capacity of 350. The pre-conference area has a capacity of 150.
Location
The building is located on Bute Terrace, 4 miles (6.4 km) away from Junction 32 (Cardiff North) of the M4 motorwayM4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
, and a 5 minute drive from Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
. Cardiff Central Station
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
is a 5 minute walk from Meridian Gate. Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff Airport is an international airport serving Cardiff, and the rest of South, Mid and West Wales. Around 1.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010....
is located 15 miles (24.1 km) from the building and can be reached by bus, train or taxi.