Images of the revised design, by award-winning Christchurch-based architect Thom Craig, of Thom Craig Architects Ltd, were released to the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
Mr Craig was brought in to redesign the project in November last year after earlier concept plans for the building were criticised after being made public.
Mr Craig’s firm has since carried out a substantial redesign, although it is understood the project’s key details — including its height, room numbers and cost — remain largely unchanged.
The ODT has previously reported the building would be up to 18 storeys, including 15 above ground, and have space for 200 bedrooms, apartments, office space, restaurants and a bar, at a cost of up to $75million.
The developer, Tekapo-based Anthony Tosswill, was not in a position to comment yesterday, but, in an email last week, confirmed an application for resource consent would be filed within weeks.
He hoped the new design would be well-received, as "an immense amount of research and effort has gone into it".
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, contacted yesterday, said he was pleased progress was being made and was "pretty impressed" by the new look.
"Aesthetically, it [is] a step up."
"I think what the developer appreciates is the need for the Dunedin community to feel like the hotel is accessible; that it will have uses for the local community as well as for visitors," Mr Cull said.
The hotel, if confirmed, would be built opposite the Dunedin Town Hall, and the site’s zoning and 10m height limit meant a resource consent would be required.
That could open the door to a potentially protracted public hearing, but Mr Cull said the developer appeared to be listening to earlier public feedback.
The revised design acknowledged its heritage surroundings, without trying to "mimic" them, which would be "false", he said. The Dunedin City Council signed a memorandum of understanding with Mr Tosswill’s company, NZ Horizon Hospitality Group Pty Ltd, last October.
The deal gave Mr Tosswill the exclusive first right to buy and build on the council-owned Filleul St car park, once the results of geotechnical investigations at the site were known.
The company was originally given three months to make a decision, but an extension had since been granted, push-ing the deadline to March, it was confirmed yesterday.
Council city property manager Kevin Taylor said the results of the geotechnical work were in, and had been given to Mr Tosswill.
The findings included the need for "reasonably deep" piles, of about 10m, in the Filleul St corner of the site, he said.
"That’s now with [Mr Tosswill’s] design engineers to evaluate what it means for what they’re proposing to do," he said.
Mr Tosswill said more project details would be released when the resource consent application was filed with the council "on or before" February 5.
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Looks like a building that should be knocked down, not put up!
The hanging garden element could be good, the remaining glass areas might look better without visible window frames - perhaps an overall smooth slightly darkened mirrored glass look (with bird deterrent). Inspiration at http://www.domain.com.au/advice/cloak-of-invisibility-12-of-the-most-stu...
Looks like someone turned the handle on the 80's sausage machine and this flopped out... Here is an opportunity to design something better, iconic even. Why are we using a Christchurch architect? nothing of interest has been built there in the last 30 years. Get with it! use local talent with a passion for our city.
"Aesthetically, it [is] a step up." Really? I don't know what the original looked like, but they still have a long way to go to reaching anything of beauty. Dunedin deserves better than boring glass boxes, even if this is three for one! It looks as if someone opened their portfolio from the 1980s, polished up an old project, and fitted it to a new site. New hotels can still be beautiful. Look at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. Maybe they had a big budget? If people want to build big structures in central Dunedin they should be willing to pay the big bucks necessary to ensure it is something of quality! Back to the drawing board!