Lo Dze - A Landmark Boutique Hotel in Martigny
Award winning, York Handmade Brick company, one of the UK’s leading independent brick manufacturers, has supplied thousands of bespoke brick slips and paving cobbles for a landmark hotel development in Martigny, Switzerland.
The North Yorkshire based firm, based at Alne, near Easingwold, provided 40,000 specially manufactured brick slips and 30,000 paving cobbles for Lo Dze, a brand-new boutique hotel in the heart of Martigny, one of Switzerland’s most historic towns.
Lo Dze is now open and receiving glowing reviews. It is situated 30 metres from the main square in Martigny and consists of two separate buildings around a central courtyard which is open to the public.
Above ground it comprises Borsari, a boutique hotel with 50 rooms and the Kitchen 180 (Lo Dze is exactly 180 km away from the very centre of the Roman cities of Lyon, Milan and Zürich), which services La Saucithèque bar, Le Cercle restaurant and Café Alphonse, the courtyard and terraces. Below ground Lo Dze features a vast Roman bathing experience, Les Bains Publics, in a space that was formerly Les Caves Orsat, a 19th Century winery.
This contract, one of the most prestigious in York Handmade’s 37-year history, is worth £65,000 and is a resounding endorsement of the company’s recent decision to invest £1.5 million investment in state-of-the-art machinery.
For this very special project, York Handmade have supplied 327x102x50mm Hunsingore Blend bricks, which have been cut into brick slips. They have helped to make the new hotel visually stunning and blend seamlessly with the other historic buildings in the town. YHB also provided 30,000 paving cobbles.
John Cretton of QDS Leisure
John Cretton, who masterminded this project, explained why he chose York Handmade to supply the bricks.
“I was looking for visually impactful handmade bricks that were handmade with the right colours and the right size. The massive nature of the architecture, one side of the street facade is
windowless apart from a half-moon opening on the ground floor, meant that the brick had to be visually strong. Overall, it was a winning combination of colour, form, texture and cost.
“The result is superb. The exterior at once conveys the mass of the objects and the history of the town as well as the extraordinary material quality of the underground Roman Baths, Les Bains Publics. York Handmade’s products gave us that and a bonus to boot – a building that stands out from the pack; no one just walks by Lo Dze.
“We have used York Handmade’s pavers to complete the public areas in the project, denoting areas that are both for circulation and al fresco dining. The brick slips cover the buildings that sit on the main street side of the project, linking the building architecturally with its baths and the town’s Roman heritage.
“The hotel is now open and is proving very popular. There’s no doubt that the baths, the hotel and the restaurants are now a catalyst for the town, linking its future to its important Roman and early 20th century pasts.
John continued: “Martigny was an important Roman town, the last town to the north built by the legionary architects. It had three Roman bath houses. We have built the fourth. Interestingly, pottery and other remains from Roman Britain have been found in Martigny. The concept for the hotel was first developed over 10 years ago. Now that dream is a reality.”
Mark Laksevics, Sales & CPD Manager for York Handmade
“This is a very prestigious project for us. It has been a tremendous boost for our factory and a great honour to contribute to a pioneering and innovative development in such an historic town.
“I have been proud to work closely with John Cretton of QDS Leisure for the past two years to ensure that our bricks are perfect for this development. The result is amazing and is a magnificent showcase for our bricks.
“A shout-out should also go to Tiffany Thomas, our hard-working and extremely efficient Sales Office and Logistics manager, who ensured that all our bricks arrived safely and seamlessly in Martigny on time.”
David Armitage - Chairman of York Handmade
“These are crucial times for us at York Handmade Brick. We have invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bespoke bricks. Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency.
York Handmade’s revolutionary new manufacturing line combine three different types of brick. The Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks.
“This has proved to be a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line combines three different types of brick – the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks.
“For this very special project, we have supplied 327x102x50mm bespoke Hunsingore Blend handmade bricks, which have been cut into brick slips. They have helped to make the new hotel visually stunning and blend in seamlessly with the other historic buildings in the town.”
This prestigious international project showcases the quality, craftsmanship, and global appeal of our handmade bricks.
Other York Handmade commissions in Europe include projects in Stockholm, Rostock and Rathenow in Germany.
