Capital Plots Hotel-Apartments Switch for Docklands Tower
One of two hotel towers approved two years ago is being reimagined as residential apartments in Melbourne’s Docklands.
The design change comes as Capital Alliance Investment Group shifts its development priorities in response to housing demand across the waterfront precinct.
The developer has filed an amendment application for 28-38 Pearl River Road that would deliver 242 residential apartments alongside 305 hotel and serviced apartment keys across two towers over a four-storey podium.
Building height would be reduced from 26 storeys to 24 storeys—the north tower would be 13.3m lower and the south tower down by 4.2 metres.
The application submitted to Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning shows the north tower would be converted from hotel and commercial use to residential apartments, while the south tower would remain a hotel.
DKO Architects prepared the amended plans, replacing the scheme originally designed by SJB Architects that received approval from the state in June 2023.
The amended plans respond to “growing demand for housing in the Docklands area” and align with policies prioritising increased housing supply in high-density urban locations.
Design changes include replacing the curved glass facade with two distinct tower forms featuring a gridded design. The sky bridge and external escalator at levels 12 and 13 would be removed, along with relocations of the pool and function space within the building.
The residential component would comprise 44 studios, 159 one and 39 two-bedroom apartments in the north tower.
Communal amenities would include a pool on level 13 and 359sq m of open space across level 21 and the rooftop.
The south tower would accommodate 200 hotel rooms and 105 serviced apartments across levels one to five, with function space on level 4 and hotel back-of-house facilities at ground level.
Capital Alliance originally partnered with international hotel group TFE Hotels for the dual-hotel concept, with plans for A by Adina and Collection by TFE brands.
TFE Hotels operates across eight countries with seven brands including Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels and Collection properties such as Brisbane’s The Calile and Auckland’s The Hotel Britomart.
The original SJB design featured the external escalator with visual projection technology to transport visitors to the elevated conference centre.
According to Capital Alliance founder Mohan Du, the conference centre was placed above the podium to maximise views on all four sides, requiring an escalator to move large numbers of people efficiently.
Carparking provision would increase from 46 spaces to 105 spaces across three levels. This includes 23 standard spaces and 41 spaces in car stackers. Bicycle parking would decrease from 163 spaces to 84 spaces.
The podium would incorporate retail activation along the Pearl River Road frontage, with hotel services, storage and car parking sleeved behind across levels one to three.
The original design included a 1000-person conference centre and what the developer described as Australia’s largest rooftop infinity pool.
The amendments address overshadowing and wind impacts through height reductions and updated assessments. The Pearl River Road frontage would be enhanced with improved pedestrian access. The vehicular crossover width would be reduced from 12.8m to 7 metres.
Capital Alliance delivered in Docklands the refurbishment of Peppers Docklands and the 5-star Marriott. The developer also completed the AC Hotel by Marriott in Southbank in 2022 and won a $600-million contract for the Revitalising Central Dandenong project with an end value of circa $1.5 billion.
Du described the Pearl River Road site as significant for the developer.
“Pearl River is our last blank canvas for Docklands and as such [is] a significant milestone,” he said.
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