A pair of 32-storey towers will be built around the state heritage-listed Newmarket Hotel at 1 North Terrace in Adelaide, across the road from SAHMRI and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital precinct.
The Cox Architecture designed towers were approved by South Australia’s State Commission Assessment Panel on 28 July, around a year after the Supreme Court quashed the approval for a similar scheme designed by GHD Woodhead.
The proposal calls for the demolition of the additions and outbuildings associated with the original Newmarket Hotel, conservation of the heritage building and the construction of a single podium building beneath the two towers. The heavily damaged hotel interior will be restored but the hotel stables, side wing and wing wall, which are included in the heritage listing, will be demolished.
Together the towers will house serviced apartments, residential apartments, and office space, as well as retail or food and beverage tenancies at ground level. A shared terrace will sit on the upper podium roof between the two towers.
The towers will feature clear glazing with a subtle grey tint to all facades, with glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC) clad spandrels and expressed slab edges giving articulation and shading. Double- height roof lanterns formed of white glazing and aluminium will top the towers.
The lower podium levels of the building will be built from sandstone with anodized gold and bronze panels and clear glazing, complementing the heritage building.
South Australian government architect Kirsteen Mackay was largely in support of the proposal, praising the overall built form composition and the inclusion of 15 percent affordable residential units. She also noted the intent for a refined high quality material palette, but
Recommend ongoing consideration of the texture, finish, reflective quality and detailing of the GRC spandrels to ensure delivery of a high-quality outcome.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
