Moxy, Hull

Kickstarting a distinctive new chapter for Hull’s hospitality scene, the hotel is going to be the first to be built in the city for a decade. The development incorporates the restoration of Grade II-listed Castle Buildings and the relocation and reconstruction of the former Earl de Grey pub, preserving two important historic buildings within a renewed urban setting.

Responding both to the operational requirements of the hotel and the wider contextual character of the surrounding townscape, the building prioritises a balanced and considered architectural expression. The site benefits from excellent public transport links, particularly Hull Train Station and the newly built A63 putting a green park-scape, food, leisure and hospitality on the stations doorstep.

The hotel façade draws inspiration from the historic warehouse typology that forms part of the surrounding area. These buildings typically exhibit robust masonry construction with vertically proportioned window openings and subtle variations in façade depth, which together create a strong rhythm and visual hierarchy across large elevations.

Rather than aligning all windows in a uniform plane, the proposed design introduces a subtle stepping of the window positions. This approach is a deliberate interpretation of the layered and articulated façades found in historic warehouse buildings, where structural bays, loading apertures, and brick detailing often created variation across the elevation.

Building on the previously approved scheme, the latest proposals introduce an enhanced public realm, with additional tree planting, landscaping and improved pedestrian connections between the A63 and Connexin Live Arena. These improvements strengthen the relationship between the hotel, the historic buildings and the surrounding city centre.