A Charming Transformation – Hotel House by Powell & Glenn and Edwina Glenn

The chance to transform an existing commercial space into a personal residence is rare, and interior designer Edwina Glenn and her husband Ed Glenn, principal at Powell & Glenn, seized this opportunity. By honouring the storied past of Hotel House while incorporating their individual design expertise, Ed and Edwina ensure the home showcases their passion for heritage and placemaking.

While maintaining their distinct design practices, Ed and Edwina Glenn have cultivated a harmonious balance in their philosophies, a synergy that has only strengthened over time. This alignment manifests in their joint project and own residence, Hotel House. With a longstanding appreciation for the South Melbourne area as both a place to live and work, the duo actively sought a home when the previous Town Hall Hotel became available. “The existing pub lent itself to a simple, U-shaped addition on the first floor, arranged around a central courtyard,” says Ed. However, the initial step involved an extensive demolition and the removal of remnants from the building’s previous chapter. “The rear of the site was a true mess of leaking glass roofs, defunct pub equipment and broken billiard tables,” he adds. “All of this meant that is was an irreducible and compelling start to the project, but If you can get that right, the rest falls into place.”

By honouring the storied past of Hotel House while incorporating their individual design expertise, Ed and Edwina ensure the home showcases their passion for heritage and placemaking.

Built in 1868, the building underwent numerous expansions over the years, adjusting its architectural layout to better cater to the needs of its patrons. Among the various additions, a prominent art deco extension made of concrete and steel remained. Despite the alterations, a consistent feature was the abundant access to natural light. With three unobstructed façades, ensuring the spacious residence felt open and connected, yet private and enveloping, was important. “There was a checkerboard of spaces where you’re never more than a few paces from a garden or window,” says Edwina. The incorporation of the landscape into the daily experiences of the home was seamlessly integrated from the beginning.

The residence “taps into the Mediterranean migrant gardens of South Melbourne,” says Ed. Yet Edwina adds that it also feels “secretive and completely unexpected”. A significant redesign was essential to establish flow and connection between the levels and maximise the available floor space. Through a pared-back approach, the architect and designer balance the restoration of the existing structure’s legacy with the expression of their own creativity. “We’re always trying to find a balance between creating comforts and finding elements that make the home feel unusual and uplifting to be in,” says Ed. “Certain aspects required one of us to make a decision and the other to take a leap of faith, but the project benefitted from it.”

Through a pared-back approach, the architect and designer balance the restoration of the existing structure’s legacy with the expression of their own creativity.

Impressive in both scale and transformation, Hotel House effortlessly exudes charm, giving the impression that the building had always meant to become a residential space. The resulting home reflects the dedication of the owners who undertook the project. Ed and Edwina Glenn delicately incorporate reminders of the past among the new insertions and landscaping, ensuring a delicate balance while preserving privacy and access to natural light throughout.