The brief was to explore and determine the best use for a small, narrow, level, vacant site zoned for commercial use. The existing streetscape consists of 2 storey retail buildings adjoining a residential zone of traditional houses to the West. A retail mall with car parking 5 storeys high is across the road from the site to the East located on the fringe of the Dunedin City CBD. 

The client sought medium density residential apartments with car parking that could be sold for an early return on investment. The client however was also open to other development options that could provide a greater return on investment such as a mixed use development or a hotel.

A hotel was considered the most appropriate development to interface best with all existing buildings and the public realm to contribute to streetscape vibrancy and the mix of commercial and residential uses adjacent to the site. The economic model of a Hotel is the creative solution that can deliver a continued and higher return on investment with increased capital gain over a longer term with the brief amended to be a boutique hotel that meets a demand in the market.

Dunedin’s history of the site is the inspiration for the design of this hotel. Contextual research revealed the site was once a stones throw of the original shoreline of the Otago Harbour when Maori canoes first discovered Dunedin. Therefore it was important to reference this historical site, achieved by engaging local artist Simon Kaan to provide an image to portray a cultural heritage context of this location and reflect a sense of place. The images are contemporary interpretive artwork to convey a Dunedin theme of sea, land and sky used to inform the architecture and the interior design.

The resulting artwork is colour printed on a grid of curtain glass panels for the 3 uppermost levels of the building street façade, courtyard façade and car park façade all suspended above steel frames behind clear glazed facades at street level. The semi-transparent printed glass panels are designed to semi-screen views from within hotel suites to the surroundings plus provide privacy for hotel guests. The view from outside of the hotel is of activated façades of intrigue with blurred movement of colours, lighting and silhouettes from hotel suite use and social activity use of the hotel cafe and reception. 

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Media

• Architecture Now - 2022 Sir Miles Warren Award winner: Ebb-Dunedin
• Architecture Now - Civic good manners
• Architecture Now - Southern Architecture Awards 2022: Shortlist revealed
• Architecture Now - Winners announced: 2022 New Zealand Architecture Awards
• HERE - Down on the shore
• HERE - Off to Ōtepoti
• HOTEL - New Zealand's first modernist boutique hotel
• Hotel Management - Dunedin to welcome ‘modernist boutique’ Ebb hotel
• ODT - A celebration of design
• ODT - Architecture awards for 17 projects
• ODT - Facade bearing Otago Harbour's image wins national award
• ODT - Hotel awarded for artful blend of casual luxury
• ODT - New hotel offers seaside view
• ODT - Shortlisted in the architecture awards
• Sleeper -  Ebb Dunedin Hotel slated for opening this summer in New Zealand
• The Hotel Conversation - Inside the new CL Hotels Ebb Dunedin
• The Hotel Conversation - New boutique Dunedin hotel set for summer 2021 opening
• THE LOCAL PROJECT - Accommodation Spotlight – Hotels and Guesthouses
• TRENDS - The hotel that celebrates its city

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Awards

• New Zealand Architecture Awards - 2022 Winner Sir Miles Warren Award for Commercial Architecture
• New Zealand Architecture Awards - 2022 Winner Commercial Architecture

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Video Credit: Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects / 2022 New Zealand Architecture Awards / Orly Creative Media