American Hotel

In collaboration with Brandrick Architects, BEATRIX ROWE was commissioned by the Oberin family to undertake a major refurbishment of an existing hotel in Echuca. The brief required contemporary design that sensitively protects and enhances the hotel’s 150-year history and place in the local township.

Behind the preserved façade, a new hotel complex works around an expansive main bar that serves as the heart of the venue. Extensive replanning of the building was required to also update the sports bar, dining room, meeting/function rooms, lounges and bathrooms. A feature staircase takes guests up to the rooftop where a new north-facing rooftop bar was added to introduce a sun-filled outdoor area into the complex, capitalising on Echuca’s mild winters and long summers.

The design, from furniture to architecture, aims to expose rather than conceal materials, fixtures, services and junctions, adding layers of theatre to the hotel.

Central to the new interior is the introduction of recycled timbers from the original National Heritage-listed Port of Echuca wharf. These character-filled timbers are used in the beams throughout the hotel, the furniture and benchtops. Custom-designed copper-tubed lighting and cracked glazed bar tiling add further layers of nostalgia to the hotel experience.

Shortlisted for Eat Drink Design Awards