Prince of Wales Hotel
The Prince Hotel has been thoughtfully designed to complement its art deco architecture and seaside surrounds.
Drawing inspiration from St Kilda’s foreshore, we created a mouth-watering palette that is truly a feast for the senses. Beach front fittings and custom-made furniture balance beautifully with natural timber and plush textures in this boutique hotel, providing a fresh, clean look that is comfortable and sophisticated.
Bespoke furniture, unique lighting and original artwork complement the lush interior, showcasing some of Australia’s finest artisans. Every room offers an artist’s palette of colour, light and texture. Each features HR McCarthy’s handmade oak chairs, Jardan’s inviting armchairs, Nood Co’s elegant blush concrete tables, brass pendants by ISM Objects and Kate Ballis’ resplendent photography series.
Meme Design completed a re-inventive restaurant design of the Prince of Wales’ award-winning landmark eatery Circa before it closed its doors in January 2017, after 20 years of fine dining service. Uniting classic with contemporary, the brief for the 2011 Hotel Design refit was about creating a more relaxed and inclusive atmosphere for diners.
Melbourne architect and interior designers Meme met the dual aims of restoration and reinvention by allowing the building’s original architectural and design elements to inform new components, creating a seamless dialogue between the old and the new. As part of the restaurant design, the dining room was restored to its original location, with the wrap-around balcony connecting the space with its iconic surrounds, providing an outlook to Catani Gardens and Port Phillip Bay.
The timeless furniture design of Fritz Hanson was reframed in a new context of contemporary European and custom-made pieces, punctuated with a collection of emerging local artists curated by Utopian Slumps Director Melissa Loughnan.
The interior update capitalised on the hotel’s charming courtyard and introduced a gleaming deco-inspired central brass bar into the space. The Atrium Bar in the courtyard united form and function with an air of European elegance.
The space’s soaring glass ceilings, inverted garden and elegant and understated bar furniture heighten the outdoor appeal and highlight the hero of the space, the gleaming gold bar. The alfresco area features TIO chairs and high bar stools from Luke Furniture by Massproductions, which marry perfectly with Meme designed high bar tables. Artwork by Starlie Geikie, together with leather wall hangings warms the space.
“Meme was able to build on the history of the project to create eclectic, authentic, familiar, and usable spaces which speak to the past, present, and future”.
(Australian Design Review)
Completed whilst director at Meme Design
