Adina Apartment Hotels will open a new hotel that will become a landmark for Melbourne’s Southbank precinct, designed by Bates Smart.

Hume Partners Property (formerly Bennelong Property) is developing the Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank, adding 10 new floors to an existing six-storey office building.

The new hotel will comprise 220 apartments using relatively new mass timber construction technology that will see the project attain new levels in sustainable design, and making it one of Australia’s tallest timber buildings.

The carbon-neutral timber product (CLT) that will be used is 30 per cent lighter than steel and concrete, resulting in lower production and transport costs, and therefore reduced carbon emissions. Bates Smart says this presents an opportunity for the creation of a new paradigm in sustainable construction.

The site at 55 Southbank Boulevard is a defining new gateway for Melbourne, sitting between the CBD, vibrant St Kilda Road, and the parklands surrounding Royal Botanic Gardens.

The hotel’s new age construction technology with a curved curtain wall glass facade will complement the architecture of the existing building to create a landmark building in the Southbank precinct. The building will feature a curved balcony, which will provide views from a spectacular pool area and gym towards the city.

Bates Smart is famous for its beautiful, contemporary creations and holds numerous awards from the Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Interior Design Awards, and the Property Council of Australia. Significant projects include Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi, The Fat Duck Southbank and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Melbourne.

In keeping with the design of some of its other hotel projects, including Vibe Hotel Canberra and Adina Apartment Hotel Canberra, the new Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank will have a striking, sleek curved facade and spacious, contemporary apartments with ample living areas that will provide an excellent city escape for travellers who enjoy the convenience of city living as well as memorable dining, arts and sporting experiences.

The Southbank precinct has dramatically transformed over the past 15 years to become a cultural hub home to some of Australia’s best restaurants, biggest businesses and tens of thousands of residents.

Within walking distance are some of the city’s most notable attractions – Flinders Street Station, Docklands and Southgate entertainment complex, as well as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Etihad Stadium and Rod Laver Arena.

The new hotel marks TFE Hotels’ continued expansion into the Melbourne market, where it has five hotels in the pipeline and sees a strong future, given the amount of investment and government activity in sports, arts and tourism.

TFE Hotels CEO Rachel Argaman said the hotel was part of the ongoing expansion of the Adina Apartment Hotels brand in Australia and overseas.

“From a brand that started in Sydney in 1963, we now have 20 Adinas in Australia and 10 in Europe, plus a series of stunning new luxury lifestyle hotels set to open in the next five years in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra under the new Adina Grand umbrella,” she said.

“All Adina Apartment Hotels have beautifully designed spaces reminiscent of the comfort and feeling of belonging that guests have in their own homes – whether they are making a smoothie in their fully-equipped kitchen in the morning, hitting the gym and pool, or ordering in from one of the best neighbourhood restaurants via one of the delivery partners.

“They are strategically located in city precincts and offer access to curated and memorable experiences for guests and locals to eat, see, shop and play.”

Hume Partners Property Managing Director Scott Davies said the innovation behind this project reflected the business’ values and philosophy.

“Achieving 220 apartments in CLT versus 135 rooms in traditional steel and concrete form enabled us to meet the requirements of the hotel market but to also be in a position to materially compress the construction programme and leave existing commercial office tenants in situ whilst construction is undertaken,” Davies said.

Construction starts late 2017 with the hotel set to welcome guests early 2019.