With a refreshing sense of casual luxury, the W Hotel chain has been a favourite of ours for years. Having already graced the streets of Brisbane and Melbourne, it’s now returning to Sydney, as it’s the harbour city’s turn to play host to this iconic hotel again. After years of setbacks and false starts, the W Hotel Sydney is set to open its doors in October this year.
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W Hotel Sydney Living Room Bar | Image: W Hotels
The new landmark for the harbourside city, the new venue is located in The Ribbon building in the heart of Sydney’s pristine Darling Harbour precinct, and it will be hard to miss. Over the coming months, the construction site will be transformed into a unique curvilinear structure, courtesy of local architects Hassell. Apparently, providing luxury accommodation wasn’t enough, W Hotels and Hassell had to adorn Darling Harbour with an all-new architectural statement piece.
It’s a sentiment that flows through the inside of the building, as well. Marylebone-based interior design firm Bowler James Brindley has taken the reins for the common areas and suites, helping to establish the new hotel as a ‘cultural’ spectacle. Each level tells its own story; the interiors on Level Three reflect an urban landscape through concrete columns layered with Sydney-based artist Sophi Odling’s street art, and ribbon lighting plays across the restaurant’s ceiling capturing the sense of slow exposure headlights burning through the lens of a camera, evoking the energy of the freeway.
W Hotel Sydney Spa/Shower | Image: W Hotels
“The freedom to create an entirely new cultural space for Sydney was incredibly exciting, and we were inspired by the idea of ‘the larrikin’ the non-conformist spirit of the city that makes it irresistible,” said a spokesperson for Bowler James Brindley. “We love to design spaces that embrace the individuality and even eccentricity of their locations, and to create interiors that engage their buildings and neighbourhoods in conversations, rather than treating spaces as blank canvases.”
These scenes are juxtaposed against the tranquillity of W Sydney’s AWAY Spa on Level Two, which is dominated by calming hues, playfully shaped relaxation pods and warm industrial lighting that evokes calm and peace. This urban oasis is contrary to the upper level, which embraces the colours and textures of the sea as a way to emphasise the panoramic views over Darling Harbour.
W Hotel Sydney Living Room | Image: W Hotels
According to W Hotels, the decadent experience will begin when guests arrive. In an ode to the native waratah flower which is the floral emblem of New South Wales, the W entrance sign is decked out in silicone petals, creating an immediate sense of drama and luxury. Level One is dominated by a ‘Future Noir’ theme, reflected in the shadows and rich textures inspired by Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. These bold design choices are complemented by a robust concrete floor, inspired by the surrounding motorways.
With bold design at the heart of the W brand, W Sydney challenges the status quo and effortlessly manages to capture the magnetism, beauty and charm of Sydney. “W Sydney is shaped by a design narrative that brings together the energy, beauty, and free spirit of the city with W’s distinct, charismatic point of view,” says Craig Seaward, General Manager of W Sydney.
The new 585-room, multi-restaurant and bar W Hotel Sydney will open in October 2023, so if we have any advice, it’s to make a booking, pronto.
W Hotel Sydney Level 30 | Image: W Hotels
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