Australian architectural practice Woodhead, working alongside Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL) lodged the development application for the redevelopment of the State Theatre and Gowings Buildings to City of Sydney Council. Woodhead has been commissioned for both architectural and interior design services of the $55 million development.
Woodhead proposes to join the two buildings, transforming the upper floors into a boutique hotel, along with conserving and enhancing their historic features. As per the proposal guests will enter via the art deco lobby of the State Theatre to reception on level one and rooms on levels three to 10. There will be rooms on levels four to 10 of the Gowings building. No major structural demolition is involved and the theatre will remain in its current form. The facades of both buildings will be restored.
Important and historic fittings and fixtures will be protected apart from inserting a new layer of sensitive contemporary design to allow the buildings to function as a hotel. This proposal does not affect the State Theatre, or the lower retail levels of the Gowings building which will remain unchanged. The hotel will be predominantly located in the upper levels of both buildings, which are currently a mixture of commercial space, retail tenancies and vacant space.
The proposed hotel will comprise 196 designer rooms including eight rooms with disabled access; and a lobby area accessed through the existing State Theatre Building lobby. The dividing wall between the lobby and the café will be partially re-opened to recreate aspects of the original lobby space and maintain the Art Deco and Gothic styles.
A new connection between the buildings will be created to join the two ‘wings’ of the hotel with the heritage sensitive access link over the Gowings Laneway not visible from Market or George Streets. Although the two buildings were built at a similar time and for similar purpose they are stylistically very different and this proposal maintains and underpins those differences, while providing the infrastructure for a hotel to function.
Refurbishment will commence in early 2011 with completion in 2012, marking the first major hotel redevelopment in the city since 2000. The plan got the support of heritage experts in early 2010, who praised the scheme for its ability to preserve and enhance both buildings.
The State Theatre is a heritage-listed theatre, located in Market Street, in the city centre of Sydney. Gowings building is one of the most prominent and famous department stores in Sydney. The project is designed to offer an exciting mixture of history, location and contemporary design, which has the potential to become a Sydney landmark.
