Wednesday 29 June 2005
Russley International Colosseum Project Announced
A Christchurch investment company has confirmed that it is investigating the development of a multi-million dollar
international hotel and conference facility at the Russley Golf Course.
The Russley International Colosseum development is estimated to be $50 million. The complex would be on land in the
plantation between the 8th and 13th holes and would be immersed into the landscape.
Invicta Investments and the Russley Golf Club are in consultation as the development proposal is refined for the
resource consent process.
Key features include: * A unique architectural design [see attached drawings and specifications] * 5 star hotel * 3
levels plus underground for arrivals and parking for more than 280 cars * 260 spacious climate-controlled accommodation
rooms * A fine dining restaurant, 2 cafes, lounge bar and cocktail bar * Extensive conference facilities including a
ballroom
“This would be the first newly built international hotel of this size in Christchurch since the Crowne Plaza was
developed more than 20 years ago. More than a million visitors pour into Christchurch and Canterbury per annum, and the
demand is there for such an iconic complex as is being proposed. Guest nights in Christchurch to the year ended March
2005 show double the national percentage growth 10.1%,” says Invicta Investments Director Richard Hunter.
“This site is unique and the close proximity to the city and Christchurch International Airport will appeal to the key
targets audiences international and domestic visitors, stopover guests, corporate companies and of course golf
tournament players and enthusiasts.”
The vision for the architectural design has come from Thom Craig and Kerry Mason of MAP. [See attached backgrounder]
“This is an incredible opportunity and could be another major boost for tourism in Christchurch. This development, along
with the ongoing improvements to the parklands course, could firmly establish Russley as one of New Zealand’s premier
complexes. Furthermore, the development will attract visitors and the corporate market with its range of facilities from
the health spa to the ballroom to the conference venues,” concludes Richard Hunter.
Russley International Colosseum Architect’s Design Statement
The proposed three-storey Russley International Colosseum provides the perfect synergy between a luxury five star
international hotel, with health spa and an established world-renowned golf course facility.
The proposed 260-room hotel, with its 280 underground car parks, is sensitively located in a cluster of tall pines at
the north/east part of the golf course, and utilises Wairakei Road as its main vehicular entry point. The existing
service node off Russley Road provides all service/delivery/transport access to the new building.
The design of the hotel has been developed at both a macro (Urban) and micro (Local) scale, with its sensuous curved
form providing an iconic statement (branding) when viewed from both the sky and earth.
The building is seen as a comprehensive development contained in a series of layered forms and skins that uses the
existing established golfing’ landscape as the underpinning design generator to totally blend the proposed development
into its surroundings.
The focal point of the design is the 40m in diameter central circular court or Œopen air’ atrium, which is the pivotal
node of the design and is used as a metaphor for the existing playing surfaces, greens and holes. This metaphor is
continued along the exterior faces of the wings containing the hotel rooms, where a fine woven sculptural mesh is
attached to the façade further’ dematerialising its mass and form and generating a homogenized build and natural
landscape. The existing layer of surrounding pines trees completes the building’s integration with the landscape.
The topography of the site also provides the strategy for the car parking facility which is partially buried into ground
below the bedroom wings and is totally concealed from the surrounding fairways and greens through the use of gently
sloping grass berms. The central atrium is also the main arrival space to the hotel and originates from this car parking
level thus completing the new developments intimate relationship with this important Christchurch gateway site.
All of the restaurants, bars, conference facilities, breakout spaces etc are focused out onto this enclosed oasis,
allowing the players and golf club members a continued discreet and private playing environment. Controlled views out of
this timber shuttered circular accommodation and circulation space captures distance views of the Southern Alps and Port
Hills, providing hotel guests with unique framed views of the larger surrounding Canterbury landscape.
The hotel rooms are all fully air-conditioned and sealed with acoustically treated windows completing and acknowledging
the buildings relationship to the surrounding build fabric and more importantly its shared and respectful relationship
with the Russley golfing community.
ENDS