Plans have been unveiled for the 18-storey hotel at Barrack Square on the eastern gateway to Elizabeth Quay.
Designed by DesignInc architects, the 41/2-star DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront Hotel will have 229 rooms and a roof-top bar with panoramic views of the city and river.
In a nod to the nearby Bell Tower, DesignInc associate director Ian Wu said architectural fins would be used to create a ripple facade on the hotel that would disperse the sound of the chiming bells.
“There were a lot of functional requirements on the site but we set out to design a hotel that was contemporary and something that won’t date,” Mr Wu said.
“The shape of the fins was inspired by the peaks and shapes of the Swan River and will create architectural detail and movement across the building.”
Forward works are due to start in the next three months and if it finishes on schedule late next year, the hotel would be the first development out of the ground at Elizabeth Quay.
The 2000sqm site is being developed by SKS Group for operator Hilton Worldwide.
DesignInc managing director Ron Jee said there had been a long planning process.
“The MRA and the Swan River Trust were looking for very high quality design because of its landmark location,” Mr Jee said.
“The MRA has been pushing the boundary when it comes to the design of the building and made us work very hard.”
Mr Jee said conventional construction would be used on the first three storeys and modular construction on the floors above for a faster build and to minimise disturbance on the river bank. The tender for the forward work is due in the next two weeks.
Image: Hilton’s Barrack Square hotel, designed by Designinc. | Photo by The West Australian
This article is originally published on The West Australian by Marissa Lague, 1 July 2015