Melbourne is a city built on contrast, where grit and glamour coexist in a dynamic dialogue and heritage and reinvention are interwoven in the fabric of the city. This conversation is vividly expressed at the new Melbourne Walk, the centrepiece of the Bourke Street Mall revitalisation led by global design studio Buchan. Here, two very different hotels now coexist under one roof: the dual-branded Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Melbourne Little Collins.

The two destinations represent Australia’s first dual-branded hotels by InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) and speak to the diversity of today’s travellers, with one hotel boutique and design-driven, and the other approachable and family-friendly. Both, however, are testament to Buchan’s architectural storytelling, which balances heritage with contemporary luxury – and both hotels feature memorable bathrooms that are elevated by GROHE’s design innovation.

“Integrating the two distinct hotel brands within Melbourne Walk was a conscious decision for our client,” says Hayden Djakic, Senior Associate at Buchan. “It creates diversity in guest experience with two compelling traveller destinations, while ensuring both hotels coexist within a cohesive architectural whole.”

The hotels rise from a site layered with history, once home to the Public Benefit Bootery building and other storied retailers. The design takes inspiration from the city’s network of laneways and arcades, channelling their rhythm, texture and light into a contemporary hospitality experience.

“In amalgamating the site into a single cohesive development, retaining the authentic streetscape that defines Melbourne was a key design decision,” explains Djakic. “The overarching narrative was conceived as a ‘collection of buildings’, a contemporary reflection of the city’s Hoddle Grid and a celebration of its arcades and laneways.”

Externally, the façades echo the character and cadence of the surrounding streetscape, while the interior unfolds as a sequence of interconnected experiences – an approach that evokes the layering of the city itself. Within this framework, each brand expresses its own personality.

Hotel Indigo extends what Djakic describes as the “making of Melbourne” narrative, with references to figures who shaped the city’s cultural fabric. The interiors embrace rich materials and storytelling details designed to appeal to the design-conscious traveller – such as the wallpapered bedheads that depict Melbourne’s street-grid and are embedded with tiny lights marking the location of the hotel.

Holiday Inn, by contrast, offers a grounded and tactile environment of natural timbers, brickwork and neutral tones, taking cues from the palette of the original buildings and honoring the site’s heritage.

Behind the layered architecture and interiors lies a unified commitment to guest comfort, craftsmanship and longevity – and, as the preferred supplier across both hotels, LIXIL and the GROHE brand played a central role in realising this vision, helping to craft beautiful bathroom environments that combine effortless usability with luxurious design.

“We believe people are drawn to experiences,” says Djakic of the design philosophy. “The joy of exploring a space for the first time is inherently human. While narrative anchors the design concept, it’s the refinement of detail that defines the guest experience. In hospitality, there’s an expectation of precision – the finely crafted fittings, the cohesive material and colour palettes, and that sense of effortless comfort in use.”

“Our GROHE Essence tapware was selected for its clean, intuitive design, alongside SmartActive hand and overhead showers that offer flexible, energising shower experiences,” says Steven Higgins, at LIXIL Australia. “In the suites, SmartControl Thermostats provide precise temperature and flow control, while PVD finishes ensure lasting brilliance and durability. These products deliver comfort, reliability and style – all key to IHG’s guest experience standards.”

GROHE’s technology also underpins the project’s sustainability goals, with SmartActive showers and SmartControl thermostats designed to conserve water and energy without compromise. “This project shows how thoughtful product selection can enhance the guest experience while supporting sustainable, responsible design,” says Higgins.

At its heart, Melbourne Walk is about creating a vibrant, multi-functional destination in the heart of the CBD – and the dual-branded hotel is key to achieving this. “The two brands allow us to cater to a wide range of guest profiles – from business travellers looking for premium amenities to leisure guests seeking comfort and value,” says Annie Yim, Development Director at Steadfast Capital, the developer for the project. “Customer experience is front and centre to everything the hotel provides and we are fortunate to have like-minded partners like LIXIL and GROHE for this journey – the hotel is able to elevate the experience for our guests and leave them with a memory to return.”

Additional photography by
Peter Bennetts
Tim Herbert