Glass palace for empty nesters

An artist's impression of a typical Stamford-on-Albert Residence.

The more than $100 million redevelopment of the Stamford Plaza will double the height of the Auckland hotel.

The upper floors will contain more than 140 luxury private units branded the Stamford-on-Albert Residences.

The project, which began in June, also included an extensive refurbishment of the hotel, including a complete redesign of the grand foyer. The hotel reopened this week.

Structural work strengthened the existing building to enable it to take the additional 10 floors housing the Residences.

Unlike other serviced apartments married to hotel developments, owners of the residences will not have the option of leasing their units back to the hotel. However, they will be able to use its facilities and services, including a new health and fitness centre.

The project is being undertaken by Stamford Land Corporation, which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and bought the hotel, formerly known as the Regent, in 1996.

Stamford operates 10 luxury 5-star hotels in Australasia and has several residential projects of between $50 million and $300 million under way in Australia.

Philip Soon, general manager-projects, says the Auckland development involved three years of planning and design.

The architects are Peddle Thorp and Fletcher Construction is the principal building contractor.

Bayleys Real Estate is marketing the freehold residences on Levels 11 to 22 of the building scheduled for completion in early 2008. Prices range from $420,000 for 1-bedroom units, which start at 60sq m, through $2.07 million 3-bedroom residences to 10 luxury penthouses ranging in size from 236sq m to 729sq m, and priced from $2.93 million to $9.33 million.

The Residences will be have their own entranceway, lobby area with concierge services, observation lifts and carparks. The development includes a car lift which will hoist residents' cars to the third and fourth levels where 148 carparks are being added.

Fran Hudson-Carter, project marketing specialist with Bayleys, says the Residences will have a level of design usually reserved for luxury homes.

She says the units have a unique internal balcony design, within a striking glass facade, that will consist of a mix of sliding panels and fixed glazing. The 1.5m wide balcony will effectively wrap around the exterior of the building, with double-hung 12mm heat-soaked glass windows on the outside. This will enable the internal balcony area to be used in all weathers, with the windows sliding open vertically in good weather.

The Harrison & Harrison and Edge Design interiors incorporate quality fittings with a combination of carpet and tile flooring, a timber option, stone bench units and vanities. State-of-the art lighting, sunshade blinds and the creative use of mirrors to reflect views are also incorporated into the design.

Hudson-Carter says the target market is professionals working within the CBD, empty nesters and cash rich buyers who may have a second home elsewhere either in New Zealand or overseas and who are looking for a lock up and leave base in Auckland.

At 20 storeys, the expanded Stamford building won't be particularly tall in respect of Auckland skyline buildings, but the width of the complex which takes up a city block, bounded by Albert St, Swanson St and Mills Lane, means it will become one of the city's larger buildings. Each floor will have in excess of 2300sq m of hotel or residential accommodation.

Phillip Soon says the redevelopment of the block and the addition of the apartments, plus an expanded retail component and improved pedestrian facilities, are expected to "breathe new life" into the area.

Bayleys retail leasing specialist David Bernard is handling the leasing of the former Brasserie space, which is being offered with a large commercial kitchen. External retail spaces to be leased at the corner of Swanson St and Albert St, and new retail shops in Mills Lane, will reinforce the existing retail properties in Swanson St.

www.stamfordresidences.co.nz
www.stamford.com.au