The Woollahra Hotel

2022 National Architecture Awards: Interior Architecture – Shortlist

The Woollahra Hotel | Richards Stanisich

Traditional Land Owners: the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people of the Eora nation

This project at The Woollahra Hotel involved the creation of a new public bar in the iconic heritage listed building.

The Hotel is positioned at the neighbourhoods most prominent intersection and contributes significantly to the amenity of the area. Having had a string of transient renovations, this project was driven by our clients’ desire to create a venue with a lasting legacy. We took inspiration from its iconic restaurant, Bistro Moncur, to create a space beautifully crafted to suit the 1938 building.

A key part of the project was our desire to greatly improve the interaction between the interior and the public domain by opening the venue to the street with new façade and glazing. The interior is now a prominent and contributing feature at the Woollahra intersection.

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

The Woollahra Hotel was previously a neighbourhood landmark with an iconic restaurant but a corner pub that lacked an identity. The oldest part of the building had become the least significant.
The renovations restored a connection to the hotels past and reinforced our intent for a venue of integrity that will stand the test of time.
With a new façade treatment and improved operable glazing, the Hotel is better connected with the locals. The internal changes with the new bar, washrooms and acoustic treatments have resulted in an efficient venue; easier to manage and adaptable to changes in capacity.

Practice team:

Jack Edwards, Interior Designer
Georgia Harvey, Interior Designer
Jonathan Richards, Design Architect

Builder:

Xant Pty Ltd

Construction team:

Dean Razi (Engineering Partners), Services Consultant
Rob Weiss (Engineering Partners), Services Consultant
Frank Waldman (Engineering Partners), Services Consultant
Eamonn Madden (Partridge), Structural Engineer
Stephen Davies (Urbis), Heritage Consultant
Scott Reid (City Plan Services), Town Planner Architect
Chris Nash (Nash Management), Project Manager
Rory O’Brien (Xant Pty Ltd), Construction Manager
Alex Tzannes (Tzannes Associates), Architect