Analysis: Donald Trump hotel - 'It has an imposing but rather urban design. It is a big city building'

Published on Friday 26 February 2010 22:03

"HOLLYWOOD comes to Aberdeenshire" was how one of Scotland's leading architectural critics described drawings of Donald Trump's new luxury hotel.

Neil Baxter, secretary of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, said: "This building is inspired by one of the most famous Hollywood hotels – the Chateaux Marmont on Sunset Boulevard.

"It is very much in the tradition of railway and golf hotels and could be described as a Gleneagles for the 21st century.

"It has an imposing but rather urban design. It is a big city building and setting it in the midst of the landscape will be intriguing and imposing."

Focusing on individual elements of the drawings, Mr Baxter said: "The large central tower is a big powerful signpost which shouts out: 'This building is here.' A little further down is a spectacular central gable feature. Such gables are usually much smaller.

"The portico reminds me of a pavilion in an oriental hotel, and is not really a Scottish feature. But it means you can arrive in a big grand car and get out without getting wet.

"The continuous ribbon of balconies all the way round means that on occasion when the sun comes out in Aberdeenshire the hardier breed of golfer we are producing will be able to sit out in sub-zero conditions with a gin and tonic."

Mr Baxter described the attic windows as "sensible" saying it was a straightforward way of giving the hotel another floor but with interestingly-shaped rooms."