The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd

David Walsh plans five-star suspension bridge hotel for Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art

The founder of Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania has unveiled detailed plans to build a neighbouring 172 room, 5-star hotel suspended over the River Derwent.

David Walsh has commissioned Fender Katsalidis Architects, who designed Mona’s understated Berriedale home, to draw up the design for the project, called HOMO (HOtel at MOna).

In addition to guest rooms, it will also include a conference centre, a 1,075 seat theatre, extra gallery spaces, a health spa and a three-storey public library to house Walsh’s extensive collection of literature. New jetties for a fleet of motoscafi ferries, an outdoor stage and more bars will also be added.

HoMo will be constructed using the Unitised Building system developed by the design studio’s director, Nonda Katsalidis, to cut construction times in half. Building sections will be produced in a factory, brought to the site in transportable units and erected using purpose-built cradles.

Design visuals released by the architects and Walsh show it will be built on a suspension bridge, inspired by San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge.

Walsh told the Guardian that the hotel “will shout what it is” because “I want to market what we have here at Mona. I want to market the city.”

Explaining the decision to include a theatre, he said to the newspaper: “You can’t usually build a theatre inside a building because when it shakes, the whole building shakes. But because this is a bridge, the top seven floors are suspended from above, and the bottom three floors are built from below. They’re not connected to each other – there’s no [noise] transmission.”

He also revealed the spa will be “extremely expensive”, with people paying because they’re “easily deluded, or because it's spectacular.”

A planning application will be submitted to the local council later this year, followed by extensive public consultation process.

Walsh – who has made a fortune as a professional gambler – founded MONA in 2011 to exhibit his collection of more than 2,200 old and contemporary art works.

He first revealed his idea to build a hotel “that shouts where MONA whispered” in December 2015, and proposed that rooms could be designed by artists including Marina Abramovic and James Turrell, who has also created four purpose-built installations for the museum.

David Walsh  Hobart  Australia  Museum of Old and New Art  architecture  design 
Related stories
23 Dec 2015

Marina Abramovic and James Turrell collaborate with Tasmania art museum for massive culture and leisure expansion

The founder of Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania has unveiled detailed plans to build a neighbouring 172 room, 5-star hotel suspended over the River Derwent. David Walsh has commissioned Fender Katsalidis Architects, who designed Mona’s understated Berriedale home, to draw up the design for the project, called HOMO (HOtel at MOna). In addition to guest rooms, it will also include a conference centre, a 1,075
CLD,VAT,HAM,AAC,ARC,DES,PHR
Building sections will be produced in a factory, brought to the site in transportable units and erected using purpose-built cradles / MONA
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
featured supplier
Featured Supplier: CSI Design Expo Americas 2024 announces new Attractions & Entertainment Technology Zone
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters, and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only event dedicated to cruise ship interior design.
company profile
Company profile: The Wellness
Based in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, The Wellness are the next generation of wellness consultants providing spa, fitness, hydro engineering and leisure related concepts for the global Wellness markets.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The design features raised walkways to protect the jungle floor
Heather Henninger (left) and Nathan Stevenson (right)
"Our goal is to be one of the largest dedicated green wellness communities in the world"

A new green wellness community for Mexico

Ibuku expanded the Bambu Indah resort with a large open kitchen and built a new guest room.
"I needed to be part of something sustainable. It really came down to that"

Bali-based design firm Ibuku has been making headlines with its beautiful bamboo structures and now has its sights set on the resort market. We speak to the team

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
"You could have cultural events and museums that go from city to city. It’s a new way of thinking"

Rising sea levels and a shortage of land are leading to increased interest in floating buildings. We take a look at some fascinating projects

Capri products are manufactured using specially oil-treated Iroko wood
Matteo Thun leads a design studio of over 70 people, with offices in Milan and Shanghai
"We want a longer life cycle for every product, even if it means business is slower"

Simplicity and sustainability should be at the heart of all design argues the Italian architect

Linda Boronkay worked closely with Soho House founder Nick Jones on the project
Linda Boronkay grew up in Budapest. Her father was an architect and her mother was an antiques dealer and collector
"Nick Jones and I are both passionate about design. When we see the same thing twice, it bores us. It’s risky but interesting creatively"

At the end of a very busy year for Soho House, the group’s design director talks us through her plans

cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
cladkit product news
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
cladkit product news
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd