QT Museum Hotel

The QT Museum Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, by Indyk Architects reimagines the much-loved Museum Art Hotel, retaining its eccentric spirit alongside an extraordinary collection of New Zealand artwork and Italian motorbikes. The entire building was relocated on railway sleepers from the harbour site of the Te Papa Museum to its present location on the corner of Tory and Cable Streets. In its new location, Indyk Architects created a new ground floor fit-out, including reception, cafe, and lounge. Existing guestrooms have also been reinvigorated with new joinery, spa-like bathrooms, and Gatsby-inspired furnishings. On the ground floor, the hotel’s artwork has been re-hung in bespoke oversized mirrored frames that give them an elevated standing. Elsewhere, objets d’art by local artists are showcased in bespoke display boxes lined with luxurious finishes, such as brass and white lacquer. The dark and moody ambiance of the fit-out is complemented by oversized Tongue & Groove solid engineered European oak floorboards in the Penza colour, with a Vecchio pre-distressed, hand-scraped style. The dark brown colour of the boards has warm undertones and a richly characterful grain that enlivens the quirky interior and creates a memorable experience for guests.