A boutique 15-room aparthotel in the centre of Stirling has completed a major heritage retrofit that demonstrates how Scotland’s historic buildings can be adapted for a lower-carbon future without losing their architectural character.

Scottish award-winning King Street Aparthotel has installed bespoke magnetic secondary glazing and draught proofing across its original windows in a project delivered by specialist retrofit company Cocoon Window Insulation.

The upgrade forms part of a growing shift across Scotland’s build environment, where energy efficiency improvements are increasingly being delivered through sensitive retrofit rather than replacement of historic fabric.

The aparthotel’s new system provides a discreet internal layer of glazing that significantly improves thermal performance while leaving the building’s original windows untouched. The installation is expected to improve heat retention by up to 60%, reduce condensation and enhance acoustic comfort for guests staying in the city-centre property.

Unlike conventional window replacement, the solution is fully reversible and designed specifically for heritage and listed buildings, allowing performance upgrades without compromising architectural integrity.

Neil Munday, Managing Director of King Street Aparthotel, said:
“This building is on one of the city’s most iconic streets and is an important part of Stirling’s heritage, so everything we do has to respect that. What this project shows is that you do not have to choose between preservation and performance. This system will allow us to significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce heat loss, and enhance guest comfort, all while keeping the original fabric of the building intact. For us, that balance is essential.”

David Bonaccorsi, Managing Director of Cocoon, who led the installation, said:
“It was a pleasure to work in another stunning building steeped in heritage and history. Working within the unique constraints of an historic building can often present its own technical challenges, particularly when preserving existing architectural features is paramount. With more than 22 years of experience, we understand how to navigate these complexities, using precise surveying and careful installation to seamlessly integrate our energy-saving InvisiTherm® secondary glazing while maintaining the building’s original character and achieving the required performance.

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It’s always great to see how much people value preserving the original character of their buildings, and we take real pride in playing a part in that. At King Street Aparthotel, we’ve been able to retain the original single-glazed windows while giving them the performance of a brand-new window, all without altering their appearance or compromising the building’s integrity.

The result is a perfect balance: a space that honours its past while meeting modern standards of comfort and efficiency.”

The glazing upgrade was supported through a program delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, following a detailed energy efficiency assessment undertaken by Business Energy Scotland. The assessment identified a range of opportunities to improve the building’s thermal performance and reduce energy consumption and provided tailored recommendations that helped shape the retrofit approach.

This Energy Saving Trusts support was instrumental in enabling the project to move forward, helping to bridge the gap between heritage conservation requirements and modern energy efficiency standards. Through expert technical guidance and access to funding support mechanisms, the programme encouraged investment in practical, low-carbon upgrades that are both appropriate for historic buildings and aligned with Scotland’s wider climate goals.

The project also complements wider energy efficiency improvements within the building, including a heating optimisation system designed and installed by Scottish company Hydro Genie, which is already delivering an average 30% reduction in overall energy consumption.

Together, the measures reflect a broader challenge facing Scotland’s hospitality and heritage sectors: how to reduce emissions from older buildings that were never designed with modern energy standards in mind.

Buildings account for a significant proportion of carbon emissions in Scotland, and improving the performance of existing stock is widely recognised as essential to meeting national climate targets, including the Scottish Government’s legally binding commitment to reach net zero by 2045.

For King Street Aparthotel, the project is both a practical upgrade and a long-term investment in the building’s future viability as a low-carbon hospitality space in the centre of Stirling.

Located in the heart of Stirling, King Street Aparthotel offers boutique accommodation within walking distance of key landmarks including Stirling Castle, the Old Town, and the city’s independent food, drink, and cultural scene. The latest investment in energy efficiency enhances the guest experience further, combining period character with improved comfort and year-round thermal performance.

As tourism in Stirling continues to grow, the aparthotel positions itself as a contemporary, design-led base for visitors seeking both heritage and modern convenience in one of Scotland’s most historic cities.