Building record 0647800000 - Uplands, Hughenden

Country house designed in 1859 by E B Lamb for Captain J M M Hewett and built by May 1862. A symmetrical E-plan gothic-style house with a stable yard to the rear, built in yellow brick with red brick castellations. House partly demolished and new buildings by Edward Cullinan Architects added between 1980 and 1984 when the building was converted to a training and conference centre. Now in use as a hotel. See report for detail of building history and details of previous owners (B2).
Historical report updated (B3).
Uplands, a conference centre of 1982-6 by Edward Cullinan Architects, incorporating part of a country house of 1858-9 attributed to EB Lamb, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: - Architectural interest: a radical yet sensitive enlargement of a Victorian country house, in a refined contemporary idiom that makes calculated use of Palladian motifs and greatly enhances the significance of the original building; - Materials and details: Cullinan’s additions display a carefully-chosen palette of traditional and modern materials, expressed in finely-wrought details and striking effects of colour and texture; - Planning: the strong overall plan, with its quadrangles, cloisters and staircases, evokes collegiate or monastic archetypes whilst providing an extremely lucid functional layout; - Interiors: these are of high quality throughout, and the theatrical yet intimate foyer achieves a remarkable spatial drama; - Landscape setting: Georgina Livingston’s inventive landscaping responds to the sensitive rural site and sets off the formality of the built complex to striking effect; - Building type and architect: an outstanding example of a purpose-built conference centre, designed by a highly-regarded practice that specialised in this type of work. (See listing description for detail)(B4).