2019 Gallery
Shortlist: Hospitality Design
Carr for United Places Botanic Gardens South Yarra
There are longstanding, unspoken rules for the design of luxury hotels. Above all, a significant volume should be dedicated to an alluring public realm. At United Places, a radical reduction of shared space champions exquisite interiors, and privacy. United Places is a place not to be seen.
Jury Citation
The jury commended this project's beautiful spatial sequence, textural material palette and exquisite detailing. It looks like the result of great discussion and debate between the designers and client and exhibits a willingness to go beyond what would normally be expected or accepted in hotel design, making it an incredibly exciting offering. Guests are drawn down the hallways through the use of ambient lighting and this sense of journey continues into each of the faultlessly executed rooms. It's here the jury was most impressed by the designers' planning, which positions the shower as the central element, creating a circulation path around it and making each space appear larger than what it actually is. Minimal lighting produces a sense of warmth and the mood this evokes is highly appealing. Importantly, the project also blends into its context and the interior's grid-like expression is carried through to the architecture, with ample glazing letting in dappled light and framed views.