Our refurbishment of a disused seaman’s mission has firmly established the presence of Wombats Hostels, an Austrian backpacker hotel company, in the UK. The existing building was built as a seaman’s mission and comprised a striking Georgian building in a conservation area, connected to a tall 1950s block. The project has maximised the use of the building and created over 5,000 sqft of additional habitable space with various extensions in areas that Wombats did not think was possible, all while keeping the popular hostel operational. Creating welcoming social environments was at the heart of our work with Wombats.