Construction has started on The Houghton Hotel, which will form the cornerstone of an existing residential development and is set to open in the beginning of 2018.
Speaking at the ground-breaking of The Houghton Hotel, Project Manager, Andrew Morris, said the development had been designed to take advantage of the location, which offered magnificent views over the golf course. He added that the developer and design team had focused on ensuring the hotel not only overlooked the golf course but that it was integrated into the hotel.
Heleen Grimsehl, partner at Boogertman + Partners – the architects behind the project – explains that the firm is striving to ensure that the hotel will become the gem of the Houghton Estate and its surroundings. “The Houghton Hotel is located on the apex of the affluent residential suburb of Houghton. We’ve made use of refined precision design elements and materials – including concrete, steel and glass – to reflect this affluence. At the same time, we’ve introduced the location’s Highveld heritage by using natural elements and soft, sweeping lines in the aesthetic.”
The hotel’s interiors are being designed by Pellerade. CEO, Stephen Pellerade, says that, in creating The Houghton’s look and feel, he turned to iconic international hotels for inspiration, including Milan’s Armani Hotel, the Peninsula in Hong Kong and the Bulgari in London. “These establishments stand out because their furnishings are simplistic, but the use of layering and tailoring makes for an effect that is extremely luxurious; almost cocooning.”
The Houghton Hotel, which has been invited to join the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, will overlook the Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and offer 55 hotel rooms of 50 sqm as well as six hotel suites ranging from 90 sqm to 120 sqm. The conference centre measures approximately 600 sqm and caters for up to 550 guests, standing.
The hotel includes a contemporary delicatessen, a 90-seater fine dining restaurant boasting three private dining rooms, and the Sky Bar, offering breath-taking views over the golf course’s third hole. There is also a business centre offering boardrooms with latest technology and a guest service offering.
Other facilities include a hair and nail bar, spa, dry cleaner and gym. For those keen on outdoor activities there are also jogging paths traversing the hotel’s 7.2km parkland surrounds as well as a golf course.
