Art, design, architecture and hospitality all combine perfectly at The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne by BAR Studio and Cottee Parker.
April 4th, 2024
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is all that you would expect from this exclusive brand but so much more. It has been designed with detail and finesse, and the interior becomes a gallery that showcases exceptional art by local artists that make this hotel a standout.
During the Melbourne Art Fair, there was a chance to tour The Ritz-Carlton, view the stellar art collection and enjoy a beautiful lunch at Atria, high in the sky on the 80th floor. The event, titled Mind of the Artist, was held in conjunction with, and to celebrate, the new partnership with the Melbourne Art Fair held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 22nd to the 25th February 2024. However, what made this occasion even more special was the opportunity to talk to the interior designers, BAR Studio, to meet several of the artists whose work has been included within the interior and to explore the thinking behind the art and design.
The hotel is designed by Cottee Parker with interiors by BAR Studio and is pared-back and elegant. There is no fuss or elaborate decoration, simply an expertly conceived spatial design coupled with authentic materials and a minimal, soothing colour palette that results in a refined aesthetic.
While the white, grey and black material and colour palettes have been combined in pattern and solids, hard and soft textures, everything perfectly aligns and amplifies the Ritz-Carlton brand. However, the feeling of Melbourne has been incorporated into the design as Rowena Hockin, Curatorial Director BAR Studio, notes: “We wanted to convey Melbourne’s unique identity in our design. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne pays tribute to the city’s rich, layered culture and history – incorporating influences from diverse sources such as its Indigenous heritage, Victorian-era gold rush, European culture, and intriguing laneways. Melbourne is a city of wonderful contradictions: at once raw and refined, classical and edgy, and we hope we brought that spirit through the design, materiality, crafted elements and art.”
Related: Melbourne Art Fair 2024
As Hockin alludes, art was integral to the interior design and working closely with BAR Studio was Mark Chapman, founder of fine art services company Chapman & Bailey, who helped bring together the many artists who have contributed to the vision of the interior.
Major artists were commissioned to design works for particular locations, such as a large wall near and another aside the elevators, the lobby, within the lifts, in waiting areas, at the entry to the ballroom and even the ballroom ceiling was a bespoke commission.
The hotel collection comprises a staggering 1000 art pieces from 40 different artists. All paintings, sculpture and objects were commissioned save two, works by Roger Kemp and Dr Christian Thompson AO, and the artists on display include Ash Keating, Sally Smart, Reko Rennie, Djirrirra Wununmurra, Maree Clark, Fabrice Bigot, Geoff Nees, Robert Scholten, Jon Cattapan, Lara Merrett, Corinna Berndt and Mira Gojak.
By curating outstanding art works from the many talented local and First Nation artists, The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne presents visitors with its own style and connection to place that sets it apart from other hotels in its portfolio.
Hockin comments: “We always wanted art to be central to the design narrative of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne because of Melbourne’s prolific art scene. We are so fortunate to have incredible talent in this city, which gave us an opportunity to bring a strong group of celebrated artists into the project. Incorporating their work into the design of the hotel was an absolute privilege. In our designs we often frame our spaces to highlight elements that are specific to place, so to be able to see the design serving to draw attention to these pieces is wonderful.
“And now, it’s particularly rewarding to see meaningful connections being made between the hotel’s design and the city’s cultural programming – like The Ritz-Carlton’s, Melbourne partnership with the recent Melbourne Art Fair. The hotel feels like a natural platform for guests to start their artistic explorations!”
While The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne is awe inspiring through its design and art, the hotel with reception on the 80th floor and 257 rooms is certainly distinct from other properties in the city. The views of Melbourne and beyond are breathtaking and the connection to the landscape inspirational.
With such a brand as The Ritz-Carlton, it would have been the easy option to build and design using a tried-and-true template; however, by embedding this hotel in its location, celebrating the local art and artists and providing a place that epitomises the Melbourne aesthetic, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne has created something memorable for guests and all who visit.
Rachael Harman, hotel General Manager says, “Melbourne is a creative city and soon as you step into The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, you are immersed in a world of art and design. We are immensely proud of the art and the artists that enrich our guest experience and speak to the local cultural landscape. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate our love of art than with our partnership with the Melbourne Art Fair, a progressive forum for the art and ideas of today.”
BAR Studio
barstudio.com
Cottee Parker
cotteeparker.com.au
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
ritzcarlton.com
Photography
Peter Bennetts
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Gray Puksand’s construction-focused facility at TAFE NSW responds to the critical need for a resilient Australian construction industry.
In our series spotlighting aficionados across the design industry, we spoke with Alexandra Guglielmino, who leads the Art Advisory team at Bluethumb Art Gallery.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Wood Marsh’s 40-year legacy shines through landmark infrastructure projects. Recently completing stunning stations at Coburg and Moreland, their designs blend modernity with community needs.
A south coast escape that redefines hospitality architecture.