Archial Architects, one of the largest architectural practices in Scotland and the UK, is set to ring in The Bells for change at a hotel in Aberdeen city centre.

The company's bold design for the ambitious £25m development will transform the three storey Bells Hotel on Union Street from Aberdeen's traditional grey granite into a towering 10 storey colour-changing edifice, already nicknamed 'The Chameleon'.

Charles Smith, director at Archial Architects, said: "The design for this development is exciting in terms of both its height and intensity. Perhaps most striking about the design is that we're using a rendering material that changes colour depending on which way you look at the building.

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"Whilst the existing fine granite building to Union Street will be carefully retained and refurbished, rising behind the existing Union Street building will be a ten-storey high contemporary structure that will strike passers-by as pink, but which will change colour as they move to green - that represents quite a departure from Aberdeen's traditional grey granite!"

The expansion of Bells Hotel will see the creation of some 217 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and basement car park on a site comprising the Bell's Bar and Balmoral Lounge on Union Street and O'Donoghues Bar on Justice Mill Lane.

Work is due to start on the development later this year with The Chameleon scheduled for completion in 2011.

The Archial Group Plc employs around 200 staff in Scotland, operating from offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

(GK/JM)