QT Hotel, Sydney

October 1st, 2012 - Chatter has been traveling around about the dramatic design Nic Graham has dreamed up at Sydney’s new QT Hotel, as their  doors opened last week, we are getting a glimpse at what the fuss is all about. Located in the Central Business District – an area brimming with culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The QT is set within two of the city’s most iconic buildings – the historic Gowings department store and heritage-listed State Theater. While the facades have been restored to their former glory, inside there is a stunning mix of original features and curated digital art installations.

Original art deco and baroque details were carefully restored, then Graham introduced a mixture of eclectic artifacts and quirky design pieces inspired by the retail and theater history of the buildings. It’s quite possible to say that Graham’s color pallet, did not exclude any color at all. Each space at the hotel is filled with rich textures, dark color tones, and dramatic lighting effects.

The art work in the hotel has been exclusively selected by curator Amanda Love (who was voted Best Art Advisor 2010), where she selected a master mix of some of the city’s most talented creatives to spotlight. The lobby features an LED wall of digital art by Daniel Crooks. The visually stimulating space doesn’t just operate as a lounge, but as a new playground after dark.

Architect Shelly Indyk came on board the project to focus on the 200 rooms in the QT. A deep palette of reds, oranges, yellows and whites is featured throughout the 12 unique room styles. Retaining the original timber floors from 1929, the rooms in the Gowings Building are bright and airy with eccentric touches and embellishments.

The adjacent State Theater rooms boast exclusively designed Rothko-inspired carpets and rugs, along with light, playful touches like bowler hat lamps and light fittings.

Additionally, the hotel guest rooms feature works by artist Richard Blackwell from Adelaide, and Sydney sculptor Morgan Shimeld specially commissioned by guest room designer Shelly Indyk.

(Photography: Design Hotels)