The brief was to create a commercial building to read as a distinct, yet visually complementary counterpoint to the adjacent new five-star hotel.
The commercial building is glazed and open with two separate volumes reducing the buildings’ visual bulk. Metal framing elements reflect the arrangement and materiality of the ‘window boxes’ of the hotel.
The east and west glazed façades are defined by a series of vertical blade elements projecting out, providing visual screening from the hotel to the east and solar screening to the west.
The podium acts as a unifying element that is sympathetic to both buildings. The car park levels that face the hotel forecourt mimic the office levels above, blurring the distinction between the different functions. The remainder of the car park is fully screened.
Using elements that define the articulation of the hotel tower and adapting them to be used in the design of the office building ties the architectural vocabulary of both buildings together.