Accommodation Spotlight – Hotels and Guesthouses

Words by Brett Winchester
Architecture by Gary Todd Architecture
Photography by Jeremy Hopper, Anson Smart, David Chatfield, Johnathan VDK and Sam Hartnett
Interior Design by Indyk Architects
Interior Design by Fabrikate
Interior Design by Public Design Studio

EBB Dunedin by Indyk Architects

Dunedin, New Zealand

 

Tasked with creating the interior fit-out for the flagship of CL Hotels New Zealand, Indyk Architects based its design of EBB Dunedin on modernism, art appreciation and local culture. From its striking façade, EBB Dunedin evokes a rich and focused design with its glass and steel frontage, completed by Gary Todd Architecture. With only 27 guestrooms and one suite layered over four storeys, EBB Dunedin is an intimate hotel with rooms designed to connect around a central garden atrium. Fitting out the reception lounge and cafe with bespoke joinery, Indyk Architects infused a deeper layer of personality with custom designed rugs and stone-clad counters. Additionally, the botanical material palette of green tiles, polished concrete and warm timbers of the dining space helps to create a focus on comfort and connection. Marking a clear delineation between guestrooms, a black and white tonal palette inspired by Edwardian baroque architecture is used for the bold ‘Classic’ rooms, while the ‘Superior’ rooms are imbued with rich, dark timber joinery and stone and marble compositions. Through a combination of rich textures and luxurious tones, EBB Dunedin offers a calming escape for guests to surround themselves with heritage buildings and the unique natural scenery and biodiversity of New Zealand.

Pago Middleton by Fabrikate

Middleton, South Australia, Australia

 

Located in the heart of Middleton, Pago is a deeply private, retreat-based guesthouse that provides visitors with a place to restore, recover, reconnect and explore. Set within a larger estate, Pago is a reimagining of a stable-like out building that invites interactions between guests and nature. Encouraging a sanctuary-like feel, Fabrikate has integrated the use of water and reflection to introduce a fluidity in the design that counters its more weighted elements. Inspired to create a Tuscan feel, Fabrikate merges raw stonework and warm textural interiors to enhance the rural setting of Pago, with cedar blinds in the guestrooms enabling the control of natural light and heat. Through the guesthouse’s design and chosen materiality, Fabrikate celebrates the Middleton milieu while highlighting the beauty of nuanced imperfection.

Encouraging a sanctuary-like feel, Fabrikate has integrated the use of water and reflection to introduce a fluidity in the design that counters its more weighted elements.

Miss Midgley’s by Lisa and Isabella White

New Farm, Queensland, Australia

 

From mother-daughter duo Lisa and Isabella White comes the delightful revitalisation of Miss Midgely’s, a heritage-listed New Farm home turned chic accommodation. The building has been preserved to celebrate its eccentricity while modern updates introduce functionality and aesthetics. Over two storeys, Miss Midgely’s holds five self-contained apartments all of which have been fitted with air-conditioning and private outdoor spaces. While each room can be rented separately, the entirety of Miss Midgley’s, which sleeps 18 in total and includes an on-grade car park and pool, can also be booked. Referencing the materiality of Brisbane stone, Lisa and Isabella have used rusts, pinks and browns for the colour and material palette in order to amplify the home’s originality. Further additions to the exterior includes the Corten front fence, which captures attention upon arrival while also adding to the neighbourhood’s architectural diversity. With a deep connection to Queensland’s rich history, Miss Midgley’s provides guests with a place where they can embrace New Farm life through short stays or prolonged visits.

Oxford House by Public Design Studio

Paddington, New South Wales, Australia

 

Located in the dynamic streets of Paddington, Oxford House by Public Design Studio is an inner-city escape that offers guests a West Hollywood-inspired getaway. With 56 rooms, Oxford House has been bestowed with functional and considered design choices to meet the needs of its contemporary guests. Neutral tones and materials permeate the guestrooms, providing a unifying effect from the grounds to the intimate spaces. Additionally, each room has been positioned to embrace the natural light of the eastern suburbs. As the sun goes down, the guest-only pool and bar offer a tranquil experience – a place to sit back and relax over drinks and light bites. For al fresco dining, Public Design Studio has curated the entertainment areas with leisure-enhancing umbrellas, textural timber accents, natural stone-lined walls and lush greenery. Inside, the Oxford House Restaurant exudes an easy opulence with woven accents and dynamic artworks that create a lighthearted atmosphere where guests can enjoy Australian cuisine and cocktails. An escape for city residents or a unique stay for out-of-towners, Oxford Hotel is a hidden oasis that caters to guests’ every need and desire.

With 56 rooms, Oxford House has been bestowed with functional and considered design choices to meet the needs of its contemporary guests.