The Metropolitan Hotel is breathing new life into the west end of Melbourne’s CBD, making William Street – a precinct often overlooked by restaurant-goers – actually sparkle.
October 23rd, 2023
The latest hospitality project from renowned designers Bates Smart combines the old with the new to make William Street in Melbourne sparkle. The Metropolitan Hotel has been re-energised through sophisticated interiors and multi-functional facilities to become a destination of note.
The project designed for DeGroup sees the redevelopment of a two-story hotel building that has been modernised but retains exposed red brickwork and the original façade. Now with spaces to meet, drink and dine, The Metropolitan Hotel is central to life in this area of the city.
The interior of the hotel is divided into three connected areas – a wine bar on the ground floor, cocktail lounge on the first level and rooftop bar on the top of the original hotel building.
The wine bar exudes an up-market vintage pub aesthetic with overhead shelving of metal mesh and coloured glass that evokes the idea of vintage glass bottles. A mural by Melbourne-street artist RONE greets guests at the entrance but also attracts the eyes of passers-by.
Related: Bates Smart and the build-to-rent model for city living
The cocktail lounge offers luxurious surrounds with custom wallpaper, velvet curtains and a metal mesh curtain behind pleated banquettes that form private booths for seating. Moving upwards the rooftop bar, with tilt-up doors that open to the elements, affords alfresco gatherings and is the best place for drinks and meals along with outstanding views of the Melbourne cityscape.
With 862-square-metres of floor space within the venue there are different places and spaces to enjoy and The Metropolitan Hotel becomes an outstanding destination, not only for the those who work in the city but for those who visit.
Javette Hamilton, associate director, Bates Smart and lead on the project remarks, “The eclectic design intertwines heritage and contemporary elements across each level, catering to diverse moods and preferences, blurring the boundaries between spaces.”
As the city comes to life again, it is venues such as The Metropolitan Hotel that draw the crowds back to the heart of Melbourne. With expert design and imaginative re-use such as The Metropolitan Hotel, landmarks are re-invigorated and made new again and hospitality is at its best within beautiful and appropriate surroundings.
Bates Smart
batessmart.com
Photography
Derek Swalwell
We think you might like this article about Brisbane Designscape, coming to the river city this 4 November.
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!
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.
The American Hardwood Export Council promotes the works of next-gen designers through Discovered Singapore exhibition happening from 16 to 22 May at Red Dot Design Museum Singapore.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Warren and Mahoney’s mixed-use project in Auckland is well underway with big plans across hospitality, workplace, retail and more.
The build-to-rent model stands out as one of the most prominent discussions in design and development circles, so we’ve engaged with various perspectives and case studies from industry leaders and shifters. From citymaking design practices to entrepreneurial viewpoints, these stories provide a nuanced understanding of this increasingly prevalent model.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Extrapolating the typology of farmhouse architecture, Cameron Anderson Architects (CAARCH) has drawn on the local architecture of Mudgee in both form and materiality to deliver a surprising suite of buildings.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.