The Victorian era National Hotel found itself in a new century, in the Chinese quarter of Victoria Street, disconnected from the community it is now a part of. The National has been re-imagined to respond to its present context in which 21st century China has shaken its image of a quaint, exotic and mysterious land; presenting instead a more contemporary and vast manufacturing and economic power.

Calling for an architecture of utilitarian sensibility, everything is robust and unpretentious, everything serves a purpose. The Victorian shell was stripped of 100 years of renovations, down to its bones and internal workings. The space was then divided into ‘provinces’ and governed by one central commanding body: the bar. Monumental, the bar forms a wall stretching the length of the building from the inside to out, enabling staff behind to easily survey and serve patrons in any of the 5 ‘provinces’. Each with its own vernacular, unified yet different.

We are proud to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land upon which The National Hotel stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

Awards

• VIC Architecture Awards 2012 Interior Architecture (Commendation)
• IDEA Awards 2012 Hospitality
• BPN Sustainability Awards 2012 Small Commercial
• BPN Sustainability Awards 2011 Large Commercial

Photography by Andrew Wuttke

We are proud to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land upon which The National Hotel stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.