The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne has debuted as a contemporary new urban retreat spread across 20 floors of an 80-story tower in the $1 billion West Side Place complex. Designed by BAR Studio, the 257-suite hotel to reflect the local cultural landscape through a showcase of Melburnian craftsmanship. “Melbourne’s laneways build a real, diverse, and intimate connection with the city,” says BAR Studio cofounder and creative director Stewart Robertson. “It is this ‘feeling’ that is uniquely Melbourne to me. And it is this interplay, this sense of discovery, of unexpected, special moments and experiences that is central to the design of the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne.”
Local histories—from indigenous heritage to the Victorian-era gold rush—influence a design that nods to European roots and Melbourne’s dichotomy of refinement and rawness. A curated art collection infuses a sense of place across the interiors, which are also outfitted with homages to regional landscapes. “Melbourne is the original home of our international studio, so to reinterpret the city through our global design lens was an immersive and personal process for our team,” adds Rowena Hockin, BAR Studio curatorial director. “We wanted to craft a cosmopolitan hotel inspired by our experiences in the world, but also deeply connected to our own city and creative community.”
Located on the 80th floor, a stylish sky lobby is linked to an all-day dining lounge. The onsite library invites moments of quiet against panoramic vistas, while the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Club irreverently reinterprets aesthetics of Melbourne’s establishment clubs.
A soft color palette and materials create a residentially inspired ethos in the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne’s understated but confident guestrooms. Custom furniture and lighting further augment the soothing, comfortable aura.
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