The brief from the client, Amdec, to the design team was to design a mixed-use development comprising of a new 5-star Johannesburg Marriott Hotel & Executive Apartments and a multi-level apartment building above a luxury motor showroom. The design was to seamlessly integrate the building with the existing principles of New Urbanism already established in the Melrose Arch precinct. The Marriott Hotel, in tandem with a similar height One on Whiteley Apartment building (OoW), was designed to enclose a private, common landscaped courtyard for the two buildings. Additionally, a double volume perimeter retail component was envisioned to create a more human scale interface with the public at street level and to expand the existing retail/commercial offering within the precinct.
Concept
The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel offers the public access to a unique new offering within the greater precinct, with an aesthetic affinity to the existing architectural expression, but an expression of materials which provides a distinct identity. The Marriott Hotel is the signature brand of Marriott International whose F&B offering is integral to the guest experience, including The Archery Bar & Eatery as well as Keystone Bistro.
Core to attracting the Marriott Hotel target age group of 25 – 45 is providing the latest trends and innovations in hotel design including Bluetooth access control, mobile guest registration, Wi-Fi and USB charging in all FOH spaces, an in-house gym and VIP M-Club Lounge.The concept for the design and planning of the OoW Apartment component of the building was led by two major influences: a central courtyard and the sweeping city views. An elevated first floor allows for a voluminous showroom on the ground floor, further enhancing the extensive views. Apartments of various sizes were envisaged to wrap the inner and outer façades.
Planning
The Marriott Hotel is divided into three distinct vertical zones. The multi-volume Basement -1 and Ground Floor host the public facilities such as the Keystone Bistro, The Archer Bar & Eatery Bar, all day dining, meeting rooms, boardrooms and four salon ballrooms which can be accessed from either basement parking or from the adjacent precinct. The majority of the back-of-house kitchen, staff and maintenance facilities are also housed on these two levels, with a ‘race-track’ type design developed around the public facilities to allow staff access to these facilities without having to cross public spaces.
Level 1, although also a guestroom floor, provides access to the private gym, internal landscaped courtyard, swimming pool and pool bar. Levels 2-5 accommodate the rest of the King, Double/Double and Junior Suite Guestrooms.Levels 6-8 are exclusively for long stay guests in the Marriott Executive Apartments (MEA) as 1-bed, 2-bed or 3-bed configurations which mimic residential units replete with separate kitchens and lounges. The MEA guests have access to the same facilities as the hotel guests, but access for guests to Levels 1-5 or 6-8 is strictly electronically access controlled.A central corridor with dual loaded apartments forms the spine of the OoW Apartment building. The eight levels of apartments range from studio and 1 bedroom, to larger 2 and 3 bedroom offer-ings. The ground floor hosts the primary access and concierge where residents and visitors can access directly off Whiteley Road. Two more central cores punctuate the building connecting all eight floors to the secure, multi-level parking facility, providing quick and direct access.
Read the rest of the article here