“The brief was very much that we wanted it to feel uniquely Liverpool. We thought it was a great opportunity to celebrate the captains of industry from this city; people who have either been from the city and had an impact on it, or who have come to the city …

“The main concept of the design was to relate the interiors to the surrounding parkland of Nottingham University campus, one of the largest and most attractive in the country, and to complement the sustainable architecture of the hotel. At the same time the interiors needed to be accessible and hard-working, …