Fiveight, a wholly owned company of Tattarang, companies associated with Andrew and Nicole Forrest and Minderooo Foundation, has submitted its development plan for the former Spicers Building site in the heart of Fremantle, with a vision to build a premium lifestyle hotel ‘where culture, commerce and the arts come alive’.
The 2,834 square metre site on the corner of William and Henderson Street, adjacent to the Fremantle Markets, is currently used as a car park but was once home to the famous Spicer & Detmold building which was demolished in the 1970s.
The site also includes an existing historically significant limestone wall, likely dating from 1852, elements of which will be incorporated or reinterpreted into the design.
Fiveight’s plans, developed with architects Smart Design Studio, will transform the site with a six-storey, 117-room boutique hotel with ground floor hotel lobby, retail spaces, guest amenities, including a rooftop terrace with swimming pool, and one level of basement carparking for up to 48 vehicles.
The development application, which has now been submitted to the City of Fremantle, also provides opportunities for alfresco dining, community events and social gatherings in what are described as ‘tree-lined pedestrian-friendly spaces’.
Tattarang CEO Andrew Hagger said the project would transform the well-known site into a destination hotel designed to sit comfortably alongside Fremantle’s historic architecture and existing public spaces.
“We have worked closely with the architects to create a lifestyle hotel concept that draws on Fremantle’s unique character and attitude to create a landmark building that brings people together.
“We plan to deliver a project that is worthy of the site’s strategic position and significance, giving Fremantle’s tourist precinct a lively heart and helping boost the revitalisation of the port city,” Mr Hagger said.
Head of Fiveight John Meredith said the hotel, which will be constructed in a U-shape, will include a mix of room types, including six rooms designed for accessible use and more than 75 per cent with balconies.
“We have focused on ensuring that the building’s height and scale considers the existing urban fabric and enhances existing linkages around the site and into the building itself. Ultimately, we will create a premium hotel with mixed-use facilities that can be enjoyed by tourists, business visitors and locals alike,” Mr Meredith said.
Central to the design is a generously sized courtyard space with circular oculus open to the sky.
There is potential for an art gallery to be located within the building, along with a range of food and beverage options, including bars that are open to both the public and hotel guests.
The development application outlines the project’s sustainability strategy which will capitalise on the site’s natural light and cross ventilation and maximise the roof area for collection of solar energy to be used within the building. The developer says it will meet the City of Fremantle’s Local Planning Policy requirements for sustainable design through the development of a One Planet Action Plan that demonstrates leadership across principles that include health and happiness, culture and community, and equity and local economy, among others.
When approached by Fremantle Shipping News for comment on the plans, Hannah Fitzhardinge, the Mayor of a Fremantle, said: “This would be a significant investment in Fremantle and vastly increase the number of hotel rooms available in our city. The public are able to comment on the proposal on MySay Fremantle from Thursday.”
* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News
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