The Coppersmith South Melbourne

The landmark Coppersmith Hotel located in Melbourne Australia was the old Cricket Club Hotel, first licensed in 1870. Reborn as the Coppersmith, it is now a boutique hotel with 15 guestrooms, a gastronomic bar and dining room and a rooftop retreat. The owners of Coppersmith Hotel wanted to create “a home away from home for the busy traveller”. But they also wanted the Coppersmith to be “a neighbourhood hang-out, a place where you’re invited to become a local”.

Their vision was to create a venue that explored the theme of luxury on an intimate scale throughout and I feel HASSELL nailed the design brief. “At the Coppersmith Hotel, we had to appeal to local people who knew and loved the historic building and travellers who demand modern amenities in a comfortable guestroom,” said Susan Standring, HASSELL Principal.

Referencing the existing building fabric, Victorian features have been reinterpreted into a modern design within the interior spaces. Behind the façade, arched windows, painted existing brick walls and timber batten detailing echo the original hotel design. The use of materials such as wood, copper and leather and a restrained colour palette add to the environment. The result is a modern building offering the comfort and amenity expected by hotel guests and diners today, with a welcoming ambience and a strong connection to the history of South Melbourne.

Photos James Morgan / Dianna Snape