The Department of Education building in Sydney’s Sandstone Precinct has reopened to the public as the home of Capella Sydney. A facelift led by Make Architects reinvigorated the heritage site with a contemporary sensibility inspired by the Australian panorama.
Original grandiose elements—from majestic marble foyers to bespoke function rooms—remain intact but evoke a more modernized flair through the infusion of nature. The Farrer Place foyer has also been elevated and rebranded as Aperture. Located at the heart of the structure, the sundrenched space is endowed with a towering green wall comprising nearly 70 local flora species, while a bespoke kinetic sculpture accents an expansive glass ceiling and a verdant canopy of weeping fig trees.
An elegant F&B concept, Brasserie 1930, embraces the building’s ornate architecture on the ground floor, while the McRae Bar—named for original architect George McRae—reinterprets a Victorian drinking den through a modern lens. The ground floor is also home to six meeting and event spaces, equipped to host up to 80 guests. The hotel’s signature space, the Living Room, immerses visitors in local culture through a showcase of artwork and artifacts.
On the sixth floor, Capella Sydney’s onsite wellness hub is illuminated by a series of copper-lined heritage lanterns. The space, lined with lavish natural stone, comprise a fitness center, yoga platform, spa, and a heated indoor swimming pool.
The hotel’s 192 guestrooms and suites showcase the intricate craftsmanship of the original building, accented by abundant daylighting across an average of nearly 600 square feet. Sumptuous walnut, natural stone, and luxe textiles adorn each chamber, which also include standalone tubs and custom Italian linens. Indulgence and opulence peak on the hotel’s ninth floor, where the 2,530-square-foot Capella Suite serves as the centerpiece of the accommodation lineup.
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