Capella Hotel
The challenge
The multi-award winning Capella Sydney has transformed the historic Department of Education building, into it’s first Australian property under it’s luxury hospitality brand of Hotels and Resorts.
Preserving the heritage of the original sandstone building, dating back to 1912, and breathing new life into its spaces required innovative architectural design and close collaboration amongst each of the experts from various disciplines.
Extrablack’s brief was to design a contemporary signage solutions that combined the Capella vision, traditions, while weaving in discovery and elements of delight that create a unique stay for its guests.
The sensitivity to the heritage requirements, while aligning with the Capella brand, meant we had created a subtle, understated and elegant design approach that complemented the architecture, interiors and the craftsmanship of the Capella guest experience.
Capella are masters in the craft of The Stay.
The solution
Our creative role was to overcome what can be very challenging in some spaces where signage needs to not be seen until needing to be seen and this was the case for this project. How do we create a signage solution that is informative, beautiful and supports the Capella stay and contributes to delighting the senses?
Capella has created a landmark 5-Star hotel experience in Sydney, within 400m of Sydney Harbour and introduces a historic building not previously open to the public. The architecture and interiors are stunning, contemporary yet timeless in their feel and the signage overlay has provided a sophisticated and functional system the complements the seamless guest experience.
Capella Sydney’s main entrance is located on Farrer Place, and our role was to invite the public into the hotel, to feel welcome and experience the Capella offering. We worked closely with consultants to ensure the public felt invited and that the signage was aligned to the Capella luxury brand and respected the heritage nature of the building. The importance of the public triangle-shaped space at the entry is that it connects to neighbouring office buildings and the broader city and there is the opportunity to entice people in to explore from this busy thoroughfare.
The outcome
Collaborating with heritage experts, the architects, interiors and Pontiac teams, has led to a graceful and respectful signage response that gives a nod to the heritage aspect on the exterior with minimal and elegant plaque identification signs to a more active, curious and elegant signage suite throughout the interiors. It imbues the Capella brand personality and assists in creating a memorable luxury experience at one of the worlds most awarded hotels.
The signage designed has a contemporary approach that elevates the guest experience, enlivening their senses and ensures it is enduring along with the building. With a curation of artworks throughout the hotel, our signage design had to be considered and understated to not compete.
On entry it was important to continue a welcoming and seamless experience with anticipative signage that provided needed information to navigate the stunning spaces with confidence and reassure guests of their journey and arrival at the various restaurants and hotel amenities.
We worked closely with consultants to ensure the public felt invited, guests felt at home, and that the signage was aligned to the Capella luxury brand and respected the heritage nature of the building.
It has been a pleasure to be involved in one of the most beautiful, sophisticated and elegant hotels in the world and work alongside some of the best people in their disciplines and trades, thank you.
Awards
- NSW Accommodation Australia Awards for Excellence 2024 Winner – Metropolitan Deluxe Hotel of the Year
- UDIA NSW & Urban Property Group 2024 Awards for Excellence Winner – Retail Development | Finalist – Urban Renewal
- INDE. Awards 2024 Honourable Mention – The Social Space | Shortlisted – The Health & Wellbeing Space
- Urban Taskforce Australia Development Excellence Awards 2024 Winner – Hospitality Development
- Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 Finalist – Best Heritage Development | Finalist – Best Tourism & Leisure Development
- The Urban Developer Awards 2024 Winner – Development of the Year – Build-to-Rent, Hotels and Accommodation
- HD Awards 2024 – Hospitality Design Winner – Luxury Hotel Public Spaces | Finalist – Guestrooms (All Segments); Wellness + Wellbeing
- NSW Architecture Awards 2024 Shortlisted – Interior Architecture
- AHEAD Awards 2023 Ultimate Accolade – Global Hotel of the Year
- AHEAD Asia Awards 2023 Winner – Hotel of the Year; Hotel Conversion; Lobby | Shortlisted – Bar, Club or Lounge; Guestroom; Restaurant; Spa & Wellness; Suite
- Sustainability Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hospitality & Tourism
- Gold Key Awards 2023 Winner – Lobby Luxury | Finalist – Hotel Luxury; Suites
- Australia Design Review IDEA Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hospitality
- HICAP Awards 2023 Winner – Reggie Shiu Development of the Year
- Dezeen Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hotel and Short-Stay Interiors
- Design Anthology Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hospitality Spaces (Hotels); Adaptive Reuse
- Eat Drink Design Awards 2023 Winner – Best Hotel Design
- Inside World Festival of Interiors 2023 Shortlisted – Hotels
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