TFE Hotels and Hume Partners Property is set to launch Australia’s first cross-laminated timber (CLT) hotel and the tallest timber adaptive-reuse project in the country – the ultra-modern Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank – later this year.
Just six months out from opening, the striking 220-room Bates Smart-designed apartment hotel, at the intersection of Southbank Boulevard and City Road in Melbourne’s bustling cultural precinct, is turning heads as much for its edgy architectural design as its pioneering use of sustainable construction technology.
The hotel boasts five-star green credentials as cross-laminated timber shines as a viable building material. It is a non-toxic, renewable resource that has a long-life cycle, is fire resistant, highly sustainable (since wood is renewable), and offers superior strength and stability when compared to common structural materials.
According to Bates Smart Director Julian Anderson, around 5,300 tonnes of CLT was used in the construction of the hotel, in turn offsetting around 4,200 tonnes of C02 from the atmosphere.
“In addition to reduced carbon emissions, cross-laminated timber incorporates several sustainability benefits, including lower transport costs and time-saving advantages from off-site manufacturing,” he said.
“It also presents a more sustainable approach to increasing density within our cities.”
Timber for the hotel was sourced from suppliers with Forest Stewardship Council certification – one of only two internationally recognised forest certification networks – and an electric crane was used to limit noise impact during construction. Modular bathrooms were also manufactured off-site to reduce build waste.
“To create the 220-room accommodation tower, an additional 10 levels were able to be built on the existing concrete building, providing 13,000 square metres of new floor space,” Mr Anderson said.
“This combines to make Adina Melbourne Southbank the world’s tallest mass timber vertical extension.”
TFE Hotels’ Chief Operating Office Chris Sedgwick said Adina Apartment Hotels as a brand had wholeheartedly embraced the concept of design-driven hotels, and had a swag of contemporary new-build hotels in the pipeline.
“As the Adina brand continues to evolve, expect to see a certain wow-factor in design that will be offset by the Australian hospitality that our hotel teams will deliver,” he said.
“At Adina Melbourne Southbank, the ‘wow’ will come from the innovative use of such sustainable building products, as well as the contemporary look and feel.”
Mr Sedgwick said the architects had paid careful attention to the way the existing building “turned the corner” and, by incorporating a glass curtain facade and vast curved balcony, they’ve reshaped Melbourne’s skyline south of the Yarra. The same care and attention were given to the interior design.
“Internally, the hotel’s design has taken inspiration from the architecture,” Mr Sedgwick said.
“The ground floor lobby is lined with timber, aligning with the new method of construction, which exudes a warm and welcoming ambiance in shared public spaces.”
Curved walls also distinguish the space and complement the curved façade and graceful lines of the new 10-level timber extension.
In keeping with its green roots, the hotel also has an energy management system integrated into each room, to automatically control the HVAC system.
In addition to the Adina’s 70 Studio apartment-style hotel rooms, 140 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments, the hotel will also feature a gym, 20-metre indoor lap pool, two light-filled meeting spaces and a boardroom. Spacious, fully equipped kitchens and laundries and lounge/dining areas provide the comforts of home.
“Adina Melbourne Southbank epitomises casual living in the heart of Melbourne – which is in keeping with our brand promise to deliver ample living space and apartment-style hotel rooms that feel like home for long-stays or shorter staycations,” Mr Sedgwick said.
According to TFE Hotels, the hotel’s prime location is a defining new gateway to Melbourne, sitting between the CBD, vibrant St Kilda Road, and the parklands surrounding the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The area is also popular with the sophisticated set who flock to the designer shops, cultural experiences and the lively riverside promenade.
The hotel is located less than 500 metres from the city centre, with the Yarra River separating the CBD from Southbank, 300 metres from the Crown Casino Complex and 700 metres from the Melbourne Convention Centre.
