The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a management contract for a new signature hotel and branded residences being built in the mixed-use Melbourne tower designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Mandarin Oriental, Melbourne will feature 196 guestrooms and suites “designed to reflect local culture, together with features inspired by the company’s heritage.”

The group will also manage 148 residences, located on the tower’s upper floors. Leisure amenities will include an all-day dining restaurant, a bar with a landscaped roof terrace, a fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool and a spa “offering renowned wellness, relaxation and beauty facilities.”

Located on Collins Street in the centre of the city – a hotbed for large-scale development projects – the 185m tower will be formed of four stacked vase-inspired volumes, with a sculptural, mesh-like façade. It has been designed in collaboration with local firm Plus Architecture. In addition to the hotel, it will also contain offices and shops. Leisure spaces will include a large plaza, a publicly accessible terrace and a ground floor art space.

“This unique project takes inspiration from the finest examples of historic architecture within the Central Business District, where details within the masonry bring a rich architectural rhythm to the city,” said ZHA project director Michele Pasca di Magliano.

“The hotel’s façade reinterprets this historical detailing in a contemporary solution, introducing a delicate filigree that gently envelops the building.

“The tower’s design conveys the wide variety of interior spaces within; dividing the building’s overall volume into a series of smaller stacked vases, with each different vase housing the bespoke guestrooms, suites, residences or amenities of Mandarin Oriental’s renowned service and standards.”

An animation showcasing the design can be viewed below:

The project, which received approval in June last year, is expected to open in 2023, and is Mandarin Oriental’s first announced property in Australia. It is being developed by Melbourne property developer, Landream.

“Mandarin Oriental, Melbourne will set a new standard for bespoke service in the city and will offer a preferred choice to travellers and potential homeowners who desire the finest accommodation,” said Kevin Li, Landream managing director.