“It is important to provide a feeling of indulgence and opulence in all our gaming rooms and we have achieved that here by painting the ceiling in gold and punctuating it with two custom chandeliers,” explained Paul. “Both the chandeliers (fabricated by Diemme) and the coffers in which they are housed are lit with colour changing LED’s.”
As is so essential to the success of any Gaming Rooms with the current smoking bans, the new design includes an outdoor smoking area. A central pebbled courtyard serving this area, provides a visual focus for both inside and outside spaces.
With the TAB and Gaming Entry Foyer, entry from Hay St is under a purpose built signage hood containing a spray of subtly fading LED’s hinting at the Gaming Rooms beyond. Upon entry the hallway is bounded by timber clad columns and flocked wall paper. As this area serves as a foyer to both the TAB and Gaming areas, the materials used are picked up as highlights in both rooms
In the TAB the tones and materials throughout are subtle and subdued; conceptually this space has a ‘gentleman’s club’ aesthetic, with warm timber tones to the bounding race wall and a deep chocolate carpet. The smoking area serving the TAB faces onto Hay Street. This connection with the street is something the Hotel lacked previously, and is now one of the most popular areas in the Pub for the regulars to gather and watch the passing crowds. This area also helps to give the Pub a presence on Hay St affording the Gaming and TAB markets a separate entry.
For ease of maintenance the palette for the toilets has been kept to a restrained white gloss tiles and a sand toned floor. But as a way of introducing a piece of light relief Paul Kelly Design has used wallpaper in the ceiling which comprised of giant jungle leaves in vibrant greens.
“Right from the concept, we have been mindful of the pubs cultural history as well as it pivotal location at the bounding entry gates to Chinatown,” said Paul. “Our design has references to Chinese design motifs as well as using classic materials throughout.
“The renovations intended to provide an interior that the regulars could comfortable return to, as well as entice a new market of patrons of tourists as well as well as the pre and post Show crowds from the adjoining Entertainment Centre.”
“It was essential austerity is to be avoided, as the least successful renovations, we believe, are those who strip the interior bear in pursuit of the ‘now interior’. This Pub should be welcoming and on some level familiar, where you can wile the afternoon away people watching.” |