Longridge, near Preston and Hyll, Cotswolds
For
Elle R Leisure and Castlefield Estates
What is it
Elegant wayfinding at two unique wedding venues, helping guests find their way from site entrance to venue.
Project Scope
Both Hyll and Longridge House represent charming backdrops for weddings and other celebrations. But as rural estates, there’s plenty of scope for guests to get lost.
Each client needed a practical solution that would respect the historic and traditional setting of the houses while also bringing an elegance and sense of exclusivity.
The Specifics
These projects each needed a bespoke solution, so that the wayfinding signage suitably oozed luxury – “off the shelf” simply would not do.
And, both clients wanted to evoke the sense that these signs, while brand new, had been an established part of the estate for some time.
We jumped at the chance to support the design evolution, to devise the right design response for each location.
We used VeroMetalTM bronze at both sites: it’s a fantastic material that achieves an antique bronze effect, bringing a touch of heritage to estates. But it was used in very different ways at each location.
The Solution
At Longridge, we applied a double layer of the bronze finish, with letter shapes cut out of the face and a back layer with white acrylic to reveal the text. This technique gave the effect of engraving which, together with up lighting, created a fantastic, smart finish.
At Hyll, the client opted to use rock from a local quarry as totem signs to mark out the estate entrance. We fixed flat cut black lettering to the rocks using hidden studs. Along the driveway we used G-Tex stainless steel panels with a rough black finish, affixed with 3D-cut, secretly fit white letters (to improve legibility for drivers). And we adapted the design for pedestrian fingerpost signs, opting for a VeroMetalTM rather than white finish.
Both estates needed internal wayfinding as well, so we carried the same classy, adapting the design and sign type to be fit for purpose.
And, across both sites we opted for subtle illuminations on certain signs, such as using back-lit tray signs at entrances, to draw the eye and guide visitors into the buildings.
The Benefits
On schemes like these, it’s hugely important to get the specifications just right, ensure top quality materials and finishes and choosing the right sign for the right location.
The overall effect, across both estates, is a unified, high-end finish, that gets visitors to where they need to be and enhances their overall experience from the moment of their arrival.
