First-time hotelier Darren Rubenstein tasked local firm Carr Design with crafting “a private haven and place of connection to rest in the frenetic city that is Melbourne,” he explains. Wedged among Victorian terraces in the upscale suburb of South Yarra, United Places Botanic Gardens‘ 12 suites comprise the four-story, glass- and concrete-clad contemporary modernist cube with a grid structure of brass balustrades. “The minimalist, textured façade gives way to light-filled interiors and a sculpted sense of space,” says designer Sue Carr, who achieved intimacy with an “elemental and evocative mix of materials, exceptional design, and tactile qualities of the finest furnishings and finishes.” Director of architecture Chris McCue sums up the design as “unforgiving in its precision,” notable in the extrovert and introvert suites, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame leafy Royal Botanic Garden and city skyline views, respectively. Handscraped oak floors and textured walls are simple details that point to more dramatic moments, including lavish velvet drapes in olive or pink hues and midcentury furniture like curvaceous sofas, inspired by vintage American cars.