A hospitality project that came with various layers covering history, heritage and unique site demands. This was about breathing life back into a Sydney pub (once known as The Australian) nearly a decade after its closure – a desire to enliven, ameliorate and return allure to the property, one engrained on the local music scene but which had fallen into questionable public positioning.  

The transformation here – working with collaborate partners Solotel – centres on the presentation of three distinct venues under one roof. On the ground floor rests the club space, public bar, and a beer garden offering pub menus. Elsewhere, Casa Rosa proves a vibrant and playful late-night cocktail lounge with an Italo-disco bent and replete with striking rooftop terrace where DJs take the stage throughout the week. Adjacent sits Chippendale treasure Lil Sis —a late-night wine bar and shop drawing inspiration from the charming ‘cave a vins’ found in buzzy Parisian neighbourhoods.  

A demanding site blanketed by heritage demands that also extends to the modern and towering Foster and Partners glass build that hugs the rear of the hotel – this was a difficult concept but one that flourishes in its spirited delivery. While the trio of concepts stand independently in design and use, they also work in alignment and an overarching design narrative that looks to elevate the pub experience while embracing elements of the past.