Project Team

design: TM Design Group
building contractor:
Hotel Renovations & Maintenance
av: Willtek

Suppliers

carpets: Brintons Carpets
tiles:
Academy Tiles, Classic Ceramics, Massa Imports, Signorino
stone:
Eco Concepts, Rock n Stone
marble:
Apex Stone
wallpaper:
Baresque, Seneca Textiles
fabrics & upholstery:
Warwick Fabrics
furniture:
BCI Furniture
lighting:
About Space, Euroluce
Yellowgoat, Inlite, Mondo Luce
Satelight, ISM Objects

Highlands Hotel is a new venue built on a green field site in a new development precinct in the suburb of Craigieburn, north of the Melbourne CBD. Located on a cross roads between the busy arterial road Aitken Boulevard and Grand Boulevard, permanent open space abounds; with extensive playing fields to the east, and a public park to the west of the site. As this was a new development area, T.M. Design Group and our client envisaged that a fresh and contemporary
approach to the venue design was appropriate. This approach was supported by the local Council. As such we had the freedom to design an appropriately dramatic and extroverted building which opens up expansively and embraces this environment. T.M. Design Group
believes the end result is an integrated organic whole, unifying the exterior and interior successfully.

Brintons Carpet

Custom designed Brintons’ Axminster carpets and rugs blend effortlessly with the custom furniture adorning the Bistro, Gaming, Function and Sports Bar. The palate is simple and clean with neutrals, greens and splashes of red combined with floor to ceiling glass walls and rock wall features to inspire tropical undertones.

Brintons Carpets


Although intentionally dramatic in its architectural expression, we have sought a restrained palette of materials. Externally the dominant features are the large roofs which cantilever out over ample terraces, and full height double glazing which invites abundant views and natural light into the interiors. Under these roofs are placed architectural elements which create intimate external and internal seating areas and alcoves, an outdoor water wall and an indoor children’s play facility.

Timber roof soffits and white precast concrete panels continue from outside to inside, contributing to a seamless integration of exterior and interior architecture.

Two principal entrances on opposite sides of the building open into a central double height space which serves as a foyer, reception and café/lounge bar. Leading off this central space is a buffet style bistro with two alfresco dining areas and an outdoor bar servery; an a la carte fine dining restaurant, also with its own alfresco dining; gaming lounge and sports bar/TAB, both of which have terraces. A glazed lift and open staircase lead to the first floor function room which overlooks the central space. It also has its own generous outdoor roofed function terrace with along with bar servery, fireplace and expansive views. Extra care was devoted to such ancillary facilities as amenities. The bistro amenities feature glazed panels looking out into screened
courtyards with water features and make-up benches in the Female amenities.

Upon entering the main space the layout of the whole venue is immediately apparent. An uplifting sense of light, air, space and visual order prevails. In all directions glimpses through the interiors contribute to the feeling of flowing space in, through and around the venue. The spatial and visual experience is intended to be rich and layered, relying on the play of light and shifting perspectives, with a relatively subdued palette of materials and colours.

The interior palette drew inspiration from the soft green tones of the semi-rural hinterland which borders Craigieburn to the north. The main entry foyer is a soaring, light filled space and as such dictated a pale palette to compliment rather than compete with the natural abundance of light.

Large format textured cream floor tiles run through the entire foyer. Our client’s love of natural stone is reflected in the expansive main bar which is finished in honed Calacutta marble with an organic shaped snake skin tile to the bar front in pale cream. The large reception counter is also finished in polished Calacutta marble and has inset Walnut timber veneer panels to the vertical face. The feature fireplace in the lounge bar is clad in a textured pale limestone whilst the
dramatic double height feature wall flanking the main staircase is clad entirely in polished Coffee Dark marble with a striking white vein.

Pressed metal features on the underside of a large elliptical bulkhead which houses a 25 light organic pottery chandelier suspended over the lounge bar area. The bulkhead mirrors the shape of the bespoke inset rug below.

Moving through into the bistro the abstract, floral pattern of the bespoke carpet reflects green tones contrasting with black and cream. The pattern of the carpet is also depicted in the full height laser cut timber screens used to divide the space and form a variety of seating choices.

The walls are clad with dark wenge timber wall panelling, contrasted with charcoal and gold metallic wall paper which is also seen on selected ceiling spaces of the dining nooks. Natural concrete panels with a textured leaf pattern reflective of the wall paper extend from the exterior into the interior space unifying the interior and exterior design.

Within the bistro space is an A La Carte private dining area with polished Ironbark floors and metallic gold upholstery on both the banquette seating and the dining chairs. Full height glazed, solid timber framed, moveable panels surround the perimeter of the A La Carte area forming a flexible dining space.

Black granite bench tops run the full extent of the substantial self-serve buffet and combine with the black and white mosaic feature tiles which clad the wood fired pizza oven and exhaust canopy.

The interior of the Sports bar intentionally deviates from the expected. Electric blue and charcoal carpet meets a black and white geometric wall paper in the entry. The expansive bar front is clad with solid Oak timber flooring in a herringbone pattern which is framed by a black granite bar top and waterfall sides.

Ruffle Pendant

With loose folds of fabric the Ruffle lighting collection has an understated opulence. The organic lines of the ruffled pleats are designed to soften any interior’s environment by providing a textured illuminated ambience.

Satelight