A proposed six-storey hotel overlooking the North Esk River in Launceston, Tasmania, will re-use bricks reclaimed from the 19th-century cottages that previously occupied the site.
The City of Launceston has granted planning permission to the hotel on Boland Street, designed by Melbourne architect Telha Clarke, despite the misgivings of some councillors about its height.
Telha Clarke explains in planning documents how the façade of the podium references the form and materiality of the cottages that once sat there, with the use of leftover bricks forming “a connection with their loss and ensuring their presence is felt.”
Boland Street Hotel by Telha Clarke.
Above the podium, the tower is set back to minimize its presence towards the North Esk. Arched fenestrations reference neighbouring buildings and soften the tower to the street, while greenery and planters add a feature to the design without defining it.
The hotel will include 134 rooms along with a restaurant and gym. Seven out of 10 councillors voted to approve the development at a council meeting on 29 July. Councillor Krista Preece expressing concern about its height, according to The Mercury.
