East Village Hotel is a three-level refurbishment of an existing heritage listed hotel in East Sydney. The venue is comprised of three separately branded rooms; Front Bar (Ground Level), Sports Bar (Level 2) and Rooftop (Level 3) which each utilize one whole floor of the building.
The conceptual intention was to provide three very different venue experiences from the edgy pale renders and blue leathers of the Front Bar to the darkened woods and deep green colourings of the sports bar, and the neon and terrazzo tiling of the roof top garden. Each level tells a uniquely, engaging story.
The Front Bar is designed to respond to its inner-city street context. From the patina of the wall renders, the leather bar front and terrazzo and plywood banquettes and the neon ‘halo’ lighting, this level speaks to the urban, street theatre.
The Sports Bar on level 2 is based around a traditional sports bar theme, with the addition of highly curated wall styling and artwork using original memorabilia and sporting goods. The bar is loosely based upon a traditional club, where patrons can keep their own ‘bottle locker’ (of their chosen sip) and book their private booth to watch a sporting match. A bespoke poker table and state of the art audio visual provides a premium viewing platform for every sporting event. The bar is speak-easy style, deeply coloured and heavily wooded, it’s a night venue which harks back to a bygone era.
The rooftop is a garden sanctuary featuring significant planting of tropical and native plants. Pale pastel colours are highlighted by various neon sign and light features. With its retractable roof and patterned terrazzo flooring, this all weather bar has been designed to celebrate the setting sun and city views and is the crown atop the building, commanding one of the best views of Sydney’s enviable skyline. (The venue has been awarded top 10 rooftop bars in Sydney)
The principle challenges of the project related to its heritage framework, small footprint per level and the need to create various and effective incentives for patrons to climb the small (and steep) stairs to reach each level. Construction was significantly challenged with all materials entering and leaving the site arriving to the single patron stair, with the exception of one crane delivery of the large steel members supporting the rooftop terrace. Heritage restrictions along with particular acoustic constraints ensured that the project had minimal and reversible impacts, with heritage fireplaces, ceiling details and wall tiling retained and celebrated.
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