Carlton Tower Hotel

This 224 bedroom hotel was built in the early 1960s in the mid-Atlantic style. As well as being in need of refurbishment, the provision of new facilities was essential due to the changing nature of hotel business, in particular the growing emphasis on leisure, and a dramatic increase in conference trade. This £13 million refurbishment included a bespoke glazed roof over a swimming pool and roof-top winter garden. Access to this was achieved by installing a superb glazed lift with panoramic views, scaling the front of the building.

The 20m long stainless steel pool is one of the largest in the UK. The advantages of the stainless steel system are its light weight and the fact that it is totally waterproof. A planar glazed roof arches over the roof-top winter garden and pool. Automatic roof blinds offer protection from the sun, at night they are drawn back and the lights at the bottom of the pool appear to continue the curve of the roof, making for spectacular views of the pool from the health club above.