a down under makeover

September 26th, 2011

After a seven-month closure to transform its interiors, to pare its exteriors back to its barest bones, and to undergo a hotel redesign nearly from scratch, the landmark Park Hyatt Sydney will reopen in late 2011 after the largest and most comprehensive renovation in the hotel’s 21-year history. Located in the Rocks district of Sydney’s city center, the storied waterfront where Australia was first settled, the hotel will be reimagined by Melbourne-based design firm BARStudio with new rooftop suites, fully upgraded guest rooms, and fully remodeled public spaces. Elements of Sydney’s historic and contemporary landscape will be woven throughout and will include the use of regional building materials and local artwork. Views of iconic Sydney Harbor and the Opera House take on new meaning with a series of new floor-to-ceiling windows throughout almost all areas of the property, completing the large-scale redesign.

Preservation and Materials
The original 1990 foundation, located on the Rocks’ original slipway, site of the Sydney Water Police Headquarters from 1885-1986, is being rebuilt of traditional Sydney sandstone, historically used as a canvas for aboriginal rock carvings and as a building material by local architects dating from 1788. The boardwalk surrounding the hotel’s entrance is being reconstructed using Spotted Gum, a timber native to a number of regions in Australia. In addition to using locally-sourced building materials, measures designed to lessen the impact of the hotel’s environmental footprint include energy-efficient lighting and water-saving devices.

New Rooms and Rooftop Suites
All guest rooms are being completely redesigned to enhance the guest experience and highlight the hotel’s harborfront location. An additional floor is being constructed to accommodate three new rooftop suites, each to feature expansive balconies and appropriately luxe amenities. The Sydney Suite, Park Hyatt Sydney’s new presidential suite, will feature an outdoor dining table on a 1,000 square-foot balcony as well as kitchen prep and cooking space for a personal chef for savoring Sydney’s finest ingredients en plein air. All suites will have floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony overlooking Sydney Harbor, and formerly four-paneled floor-to-ceiling windows will be replaced with two larger panes to make for clearer views of the city outside. In addition to new design elements, notable service enhancements will include twice the former number of hotel butlers to assist all hotel guests and new restaurant-style, hand-carried in-room dining instead of the traditional roll cart.

Art and Design
Park Hyatt Sydney has selected a small group of renowned Australian artists to create sculptures, paintings, and photographs inspired by The Rocks and Harbor to connect public spaces and guest rooms to Sydney’s past and present. Commissioned artists include painter Tim Johnson, sculptors Bruce Armstrong and Robert Bridgewater, and photographer Robert Billington. Johnson’s paintings depict the ‘old’ Rocks area and ‘new’ Harbor Bridge, while Armstrong’s figurative sculpture made of native Australian Red Gum depicts two faces of The Rocks’ historical settlers. Additional art objects in guest rooms include custom-designed handmade porcelain pieces sourced from a local potter.

Restaurants and Bars
In addition to private dining options, guests will be able to enjoy locally-sourced and bio-dynamic cuisine in The Dining Room, the hotel’s premier restaurant. Its entire façade is being reconstructed to perfect the Opera House view from all possible angles through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. In addition to dining room enhancements, bar goers will be able to glimpse these same views from any barstool perch at The Bar or the all-day casual dining venue, The Living Room.

 

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