Tall & Urban News

ASX-listed casino operator Crown Resorts has unveiled early images for Sydney's first six-star hotel and its serviced apartments at One Barangaroo, a controversial AU$2.4-billion (US$1.6-billion) development under construction next to Darling Harbour. It is part of the wider Barangaroo South Complex taking shape in the area.

Spearheaded by billionaire James Packer, the harbor-front project, which is quickly taking shape, will eventually reach 275 meters, making it one of the tallest hotels in Sydney.

Crown's resort and casino tower is designed by WilkinsonEyre, a London firm. The interiors are being designed by Meyer Davis, a New York firm that specializes in hotels and restaurants.

Across the tower's 72 floors will be 82 apartments overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and a 349-room hotel.

The hotel will sit above the building's entrance, rising from level six to 32 with its “sky villas," reserved for casino guests looking for a premium experience, located higher up the tower between levels 67 and 69.

Apartments ranging from two to six bedrooms in size will be located between levels 33 to 63, with the building's oval-shaped two-story penthouse to be located seven stories from the top, holding a rumored AU$100 million (US$67 million) price tag. Apartment residents will have access to the services and amenities of the hotel.

Crown Resorts' largest shareholder James Packer paid AU$60 million (US$40 million) for two floors in the tower with interior designer Blainey North working up designs to customize the apartment. Veteran venture capitalist Bob Blann reportedly paid more than AU$40 million (US$27 million) for an entire floor apartment on level 61.

Crown Sydney chief operating officer Peter Crinis said the company had worked with leading international design teams to create something truly unique for Sydney. “The building is international in feel but celebrating the beauty of Sydney and its surrounds in its execution.”

Amenities within the tower include a private gym, open-air tennis court, gaming areas, spiral staircases, and a custom-made glass chandelier in the lobby made with 396 crystal-clad blades. At ground level, there will be restaurants, additional gaming areas and a spa accessible to the public.

Architects WilkinsonEyre designed the building to hold 8,000 glass panels, all individually cut and unique in their size, to allow all rooms to maintain floor to ceiling windows to “frame the views of Sydney’s most iconic harbor-side landmarks.”

Crown Resorts, which was given approval by the New South Wales (NSW) Planning Assessment Commission in 2016 for the hotel, has had to battle the NSW government in order to maintain its uninterrupted views. The casino provider believed it had paid a price for the property that included an exclusive view of the harbor.

Crown alleged that the Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA), run by the NSW government, took bids from other companies for taller buildings that would hinder the Crown tower view.

In 2019, Crown and developer Lendlease settled an appeal from Infrastructure New South Wales out of court, over the development authority’s challenge to a NSW Supreme Court ruling in favor of the property developer.

The development remains on track to deliver the new hotel by the first half of the 2021 financial year, with the hotel to be operating by December of 2021.

Property developer Lend Lease is also pushing ahead with its own luxury units. The company is building three high-rises in the One Sydney Harbour precinct.

Two main towers, soaring 71 stories and 60 stories, have been designed by Pritzker prize-winning architect Renzo Piano and will comprise 624 units. A third tower will rise 29 stories and include about 151 units.

Chinese-backed developer Aqualand also has luxury apartments planned for its towers in Barangaroo Central after buying out fellow consortium members Grocon and Oxford Properties.

For more on this story, go to The Urban Developer.