Melbourne Place: A Design First Approach to Hospitality

Melbourne Place, the city’s newest luxury hotel, is a celebration of contemporary Australian design. Nestled in the heart of the city on Russell Street this 14-story, 191-room boutique hotel embraces Melbourne’s rich design heritage while offering a fresh perspective on modern hospitality. Designed by Kennedy Nolan, the hotel champions local craftsmanship, artistry, and materiality, creating a space that feels both deeply connected to the city and distinctly forward-thinking.

The vision for Melbourne Place was born from a desire to create a hotel that reflects the city’s creative energy—one that feels deeply connected to its surroundings while offering a fresh perspective on contemporary hospitality. Melbourne has long been a hub for design, art, and culture, and this project adds to that rich legacy. By engaging with local makers and embracing a uniquely Australian aesthetic, Melbourne Place offers more than a place to stay—it’s a destination that embodies the city’s spirit. 

The design ethos of Melbourne Place is one of considered materiality. The architecture, deeply rooted in Melbourne’s heritage, is reflected in the hotel’s interiors—subtle yet bold, with a tonal palette that enhances the city’s ever-changing light. At Jardan, the philosophy has always been about designing furniture that reflects Australia’s unique way of living—pieces that feel effortless yet that are deeply considered. The collaboration with Kennedy Nolan was a natural fit, which resulted in a selection of custom and signature pieces, each thoughtfully placed to enhance the hotel’s refined yet richly layered interiors.

A key feature of this collaboration is the custom-designed Joy chair, created exclusively for Melbourne Place. Designed to feel both playful and timeless, the chair sits comfortably in every guestroom, embodying Jardan’s made-to-order approach and Kennedy Nolan’s distinct design language.

Beyond the Joy chair, many of Jardan’s silhouettes find their home throughout the hotel. The Bon sofa welcomes guests in the Everyday and Urban suites, while the Leeroy sofa and Gus dining chairs bring warmth and ease to the Horizon suites. In the penthouse, the Lemmy modular sofa anchors the space with a sense of relaxed grandeur, while the Sunny bed integrates seamlessly in the master bedroom. The colour palette of the hotel ties in beautifully with Jardan’s fabric offerings, capturing the versatility and adaptability of these materials in a space designed for longevity and comfort. This collaboration allowed Jardan to bring depth and character to a project of this scale, reinforcing a shared belief in the power of Australian design.

More than just a luxury stay, Melbourne Place is an experience shaped by artistry and intention. Every element has been considered to create a space that is bold, contemporary, and uniquely Australian—one that not only serves as a retreat for guests but also as a landmark for Melbourne’s evolving design landscape.

Photography - Anson Smart, Lars Osland