Holder Mathias was commissioned by Forest Holidays in 2007 to develop a new generation of holiday cabins to be rolled out over the next ten years. The firm is also engaged in supporting Forest Holidays in its masterplanning on other sites within the Forestry Commission estate.
Forest Holidays, a joint venture between the Forestry Commission and The Camping and Caravanning Club, already provides cabin holidays at various locations around Britain, and these new designs aim to provide guests with an inspiring woodland experience while minimising any environmental impact and delivering high levels of sustainability.
Peter Gamble, managing director of Holder Mathias, said: “Our major challenge was to design next–generation, high–quality, sustainable holiday homes within realistic commercial constraints that would bring customers back, time after time.
“Forest Holidays was created in the 1960s out of a demand from the public to stay in Forestry Commission sites. The concept we have produced stays true to this unique approach to holidays, allowing people to connect with the beautiful settings of these sites.
“The cabins set a new standard in design and an exemplar in sustainability for the sector while remaining a realistic commercial investment in this competitive market.”
The first of the new designs are located at Forest Holiday’s site in Argyll, Scotland which was opened by Scotland’s Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, on October 6.
Feedback from guests staying in prototype cabins at Forest Holidays’ Yorkshire site has been positive, and planning consent has been secured at sites in the Forest of Dean, Sherwood Forest and Glenmore (Scotland), along with the expansion of an existing site at Cropton (Yorkshire).
Gary Fletcher, CEO of Forest Holidays, said: “The input of Holder Mathias has been invaluable not only in creating new, sustainable designs for the cabin, but in planning our sites so they are flexible enough to work in the next ten years and beyond. Their experience in this sector is second to none, and their track record shines through in the work produced for us.”
The cabins have been designed to give guests a ‘back-to-nature’ experience, and take advantage of each the sites’ natural settings, with open living spaces featuring large glazed windows. In Argyll they take in views across Loch Long. Using materials which have a minimal environmental impact, where heating and energy from biomass is used, the cabins aim to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. FSC sourced timber and clay roof tiles have also been used.
All cabins are built on short bore piles over the woodland floor to reduce the disruption to local flora and fauna, and low impact piling has been used to reduce the effect on existing infrastructure below ground such as tree roots. The two and three bedroom Cabins feature a range of deluxe furnishings and fittings including flat screen TV, well equipped kitchen, BBQ and outdoor hot tubs.
Holder Mathias’ previous work in the leisure sector includes projects for Rank, Bourne Leisure and Center Parcs.
Prices for a four night mid-week break in October 2009, based on four people staying in a two bedroom unit, start from £319 per cabin.
11/11/2009