Designs unveiled for Australia's first Park Hotel in Melbourne

The design for a new Melbourne hotel has been revealed.

The 23-storey Park Hotel by Roxy Pacific at 360 Little Bourke Street will feature 319 guest rooms.

The hotel has been designed by architecture and interior design practice Bates Smart.

It will also feature a lobby lounge, a concept restaurant and roof top bar.

The hotel is scheduled to open in late 2021.

Bates Smart Director Cian Davis said the design pays homage to the site’s history as gateway to the historic horse stable and livestock auction sale yard, Kirk’s Bazaar.

“We have respected the urban context and character of the location that is surrounded by warehouse frontages,” he said.

“The site will be transformed to offer a respectful sense of verticality, with the façade reinterpreting the old beautiful red brickwork of the streetscape.

“Intimate internal spaces have been created on the ground floor plane to encourage social interactions and engagement with the other local restaurants and retailers.”

Bates Smart Director Brenton Smith said the interior features include “horse saddlery accents” and “blacksmith-inspired metal accents”.

“The hotel takes cues from Melbourne’s vibrant laneway culture, recognising the ‘urban grit’ of this former industrial neighbourhood and its surrounds,” Smith said.

“The interiors complement the architectural approach, creating create a sensory experience for guests.

“The traditional food and beverage model has been challenged to create a space for an independent operator that will offer guests an authentic, local neighbourhood experience.

“We responded to the laneway context of the site and brought this element of Melbourne’s café and street culture within the building.

“We also remodelled the conventional arrival experience to offer an inquisitive guest arrival journey.

“The ground floor plane is opened to encourage guests to walk through the relaxed food and beverage component before reaching reception for check-in.”

There will also be a a ballroom to accommodate meetings and events, said Ben Hopkins, Managing Director of Roxy-Pacific Australian and NZ.

“Conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne, the new Park Hotel Melbourne is a continuation of the Group’s strategic efforts to strengthen our hospitality and is in line with our plans to grow our stable of recurring income streams,” said Hopkins.

“Going forward, Australia’s tourism and hotel sector is expected to record strong growth in the coming years, likely to exceed the country’s broader economic growth, and should augur well for the new hotel.

“Bates Smart have been the perfect partner to grow our vision for the property, which we aspire to be the market leader in 4-star hotels in Melbourne CBD.”