Hirvam.it

An artist's impression of the apartment, hotel and office block proposed for the heritage-listed old Commonwealth Bank building and site on Bennett St in Darwin

Visions of past at former bank site

BEN LANGFORD l May 20th, 2009 l Linkback

THE old Commonwealth Bank building in the heart of Darwin's CBD could be turned into a restaurant and bar that would "echo" the function and style of the old Darwin Hotel,developers say.

A revised plan has been produced for the development of the site on the corner of Smith and Bennett streets near Darwin's state square precinct.

The Commonwealth Hotel and Residences development is being designed by heritage experts at Sydney-based Tanner architects.

A "twin blade" structure has been added to the building design to echo the lines of the old bank building, which will not bealtered externally.

The developer is Philip Grice's Fannie Bay Investments.

Planner June D'Rozario told Darwin City Council's recent meeting the development would stay true to the old bank's heritage values and would open up the inside of the building.

"The essential parts of the building ... have not been altered," she said.

Developers proposed a 1940s-style tropical piano bar for inside the restored heritage-listed area, "echoing the function of the former Darwin Hotel".

But they admitted at the council meeting they could not control how a tenant would use the venue.

The development was first proposed in 2007 but has been modified to take into account problems the council had with some parts of the design, largely concerning access and parking.

The entire bank building would remain intact.

The 21-storey development would be built next to it, and would contain seven levels of offices, two levels of hotel with 24 suites, and 10 levels containing 44 apartments.

Parking could still prove a problem, with a shortfall of 100 spaces on planning requirements and a set-down area on Bennett St that would only fit two cars - not a full coach.

If cars were in the spots while a bus was waiting to park it could stop traffic on the busy street.

Entry to the building would be from Smith St and cars would leave along the narrow Yuen Place, which would need to have its present parking spots removed to allow vehicles to exit.

The revised plans will be considered by the council and the Development Consent Authority.

CULWULLA

wow, great news. love the design.looks atleast 80m high.

__________________
KMS swum since Jan 1/09-235km//since 08-703km
Swimming= 95% pain, 5% pleasure...

CULWULLA

hirvam- got email back from tanner architects yesterday to confirm height
ground rl=29m (highest part of CBD)
top rl=107.5m
height=78.5m
darwins 3rd tallest

original com bank 1942

__________________
KMS swum since Jan 1/09-235km//since 08-703km
Swimming= 95% pain, 5% pleasure...

CULWULLA

heres site plan. what a great location.

__________________
KMS swum since Jan 1/09-235km//since 08-703km
Swimming= 95% pain, 5% pleasure...

KBT

OMG!

This is my new favourite proposed tower!

please please build this