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With no chain-hotel formula to constrain it, the Emporium Hotel’s exuberant design sets the standard for luxury in the Brisbane market.
Brisbane may be the capital of Australia's Queensland, but it's typically not viewed as being in the same league as its more cosmopolitan neighbors, Melbourne and Sydney. But a new luxury boutique hotel-part of a successful urban revitalization effort in Brisbane's Emporium district-is helping raise the city's profile and make it the new go-to destination Down Under.
Tony John, managing director of the Anthony John Group, is the mastermind behind the Emporium district. He orchestrated the conversion of a rundown bus depot into a high-end mixed-use retail/restaurant/residential district that's become a destination point for well-heeled locals and international travelers.
The final piece of the Emporium puzzle involved creating a building to fill a vacant but highly visible corner space. And with Brisbane's growth in tourism, "the idea for a hotel seemed like a nice way to complete this urban village," John explains.
Although he'd never before opened a hotel, as a seasoned architect, John was ready for the challenge. Together with his wife, Francine, and Greg Harris, principal of local design firm Greg Harris Design, John set out to develop a 106-room luxury boutique hotel from the ground up that would make international travelers feel right at home.
"The idea was to develop design that used sculptural forms with interesting creative touches. Tony always goes the extra mile to make sure it's unique," says Harris. The Johns' travels to Paris, New York and Africa are evident in the eclectic blending of classical and contemporary styles that give the hotel a vibe that is deliberately difficult to classify.
But while many of the furnishings and materials are imported, a number of architectural details and furnishings were locally sourced. "We always encourage using local creative talent to ensure we have a really eclectic mix in the design," John explains. Finding pieces like the antique French stained-glass window featured in the bar area, he adds, was just "good luck." At the same time, John says they were keen to incorporate newly launched items from international sources-for example, an elegant wall covering-to up the design ante when appropriate.
One imported design idea that permeates the space is a frangipani flower and leaf pattern. Francine John's passion for frangipanis-fragrant white flowers with yellow centers- is evident from the outside in. Though not native to Australia, the frangipani trees feature prominently in the Emporium district's landscape.
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