SIX-STAR HOTEL AT THE FORT A VICTIM OF RECESSION
Manila Informer, 09/05/09
The Escada @ The Fort, the six-star luxury hotel being built by renowned international hotelier Escada International, ran into a financial glitch after the expensive loss the company incurred in appointing German glasswork and metal firm, Kaufhossen for the 330 m tower's facade work. A few months after the rewarding for the facade commission, the German firm went into bankruptcy prompting all work on the tower's unique irregular facade to stop. The Swedish international firm however confirmed that the work on the hotel itself will not stop. "The hotel is progressing as scheduled, and the problem of facade work has been addressed in haste. We promised Manila a grand hotel and we will fulfill this promise." stated Francesca Jauffman, Escada International's spokeswoman, during the awarding of the facade work commission to Australian firm, Gallman. "Because of the facade revision, there are a few changes to the tower's design. To restore that presence that would have been granted by the expensive glasswork, we chose to give it a more streamlined shape enhanced by a simple facade. Also, the tower's height had been bumped up to 345 meters roof height," the official statement of Patrick Hobayan, PTRCKDSIGN head architect. Part as well of the hotel's reinvention from the old plan to the new was the rebranding of the hotel. "To match the more modern and simple exterior of the hotel, we have decided to market the hotel as a boutique luxury hotel, the tallest and largest of its kind in the world. From Escada @ The Fort we now christen the Philippines' first six-star hotel, the Escada Metropolite." stated Jauffman. The hotel's modern branding now befits the same streamline shape yet more modern and simple facade that PTRCKDSIGN gave the tower, both an aesthetic and cost-efficient solution for the construction of the tower. "The construction goes on. The tower is slated to be complete by first quarter of 2010." stated Jauffman.
OR IN SHORT... my computer can't handle the intricate facade of the Escada so I revised it from the ground up. Here's a comparison of the old and new facade. One interesting fact, this is the first tower I built with floor plates... haha...
Old and new design comparison. I deliberately made the new render a bit blurry coz that's not the final thing.
New Escada Metropolite Ad