Mitchelton Winery.

 It is steeped in not only viticulture history, but also design history with the original estate having been designed by the famed architect Robin Boyd CBE. Following his passing in 1971, design of the winery, cellar door and now famous tower, were completed by Australian Architect Ted Ashton.

It was against this backdrop that Hecker Guthrie were invited by the current owner to design a new cellar door and boutique 54 room hotel. The result is an impeccable luxury hotel inspired by its surroundings, including not only the vineyards but the graceful eucalypts lining the banks of the Goulburn river which runs adjacent to the hotel site. The design features natural materials offered up in a refined way, whilst offering warmth and a strong connection to country.

The hotel brick façade cladding representing an expansive design element, was carefully chosen to sit respectfully within the site context whilst embodying Hecker Guthrie’s vision for the built form. It was designed to provide a face to the hotel acting as a “portal from public to private”

Hecker Guthrie chose KLAY Einfach KBS SKV 2042 Black Shimmer brick slips. Offering a variegated organic look of solid colour greys and silvery blues, the overall impression is textural and interesting to the eye. Laid in a horizontal brick bond pattern the brick slip orientation elongates the building whilst allowing it to nestle in the landscape.

KLAY’s Einfach Black Shimmer brick slip façade design is not only attractive to look at but offers all the attributes of a fully fired, clay based natural product manufactured in Germany under Germany’s strict product and environmental standards. These products require little to no maintenance offering the look and feel of full body bricks without the structural impost created by the weight of a full body brick. They are frost and fade resistant and will maintain their appearance for decades.

KLAY’s Einfach Black Shimmer brick slips are perfectly at home with the restored timber and brickwork sitting elsewhere in the property, along with the elegant furniture pieces from Great Dane, Forestier and Hub. The end result is luxury without pretence and an ability to stand the test of time.