When Orient-Express Hotels chose the old Sydney fishing village of Millers Point for its Australian debut in 1994, it seemed to have one the best locations possible. On a hill overlooking the Darling Harbour, the stone building with black iron balconettes offered Australian-flavored luxury right near the historic area of the Rocks.
But what the original Observatory Hotel didn’t capitalize on was the views. The first thing guests would ask was “where’s the water?” says designer Su Ball, executive director of London’s GA Design, the firm tasked with the four month, $30 million makeover of the property, which has been rebranded as the Langham Sydney.
The major structural changes, according to Ball, were made in the Art Deco-style lobby where pillars and a staircase were removed to bring in the harbor views and light. The dramatic new entrance sports Calacatta marble floors, a large central reception desk of gold leaf crackled porcelain, a white and brass chandelier shaped like a peacock tail, and attention-grabbing resin artwork.
Elsewhere, the 98-room hotel got an almost total refresh with bespoke furniture, lighting, and carpets throughout. Ball’s brief, she says, was to come up with a residential, intimate atmosphere in keeping with the Langham’s philosophy of modern opulence. “We wanted to ensure we translated the hotel’s grand history while reinvigorating the spaces with contemporary design elements combined with classic references such as the custom made cornices.”
In line with the high-end residential feel, “we introduced rich, elegant materials and stylish features such as the gold and white shellac finish on the reception desk, the expansive marble fireplaces in each of the public spaces, and classical candlestick lamps,” Ball adds. “Everything has been hand designed—each chair, coffee table, headboard, chandelier, handmade rug, pendant light, and lamp shade.”
Standard guestrooms boast white soft-paneled walls, Parisian-style shutters, and water-facing balconies. Their interiors feature patterned teal and taupe carpets, bespoke mahogany furniture, marble bathrooms, and beds framed by studded-linen headboards.
A new edition to the hotel’s restaurant selection is the open galley Kent Street Kitchen with former Guy Savoy chef de cuisine Daniel Rudolph at its helm. Its centerpiece long white marble chef’s table sits beneath a brass and gold pendant lighting creation and is hemmed by walnut and leather chairs, freestanding wine libraries, and Australian artwork curated by Sotheby’s.
Elsewhere, the new Chuan Spa features rich-colored oak flooring and a palette of chocolate, black, and bronze fabrics and furnishings, while the beloved pool with its starlit ceiling is the only true survivor of the former hotel.
