The National Type Hospitality Completion 2012 Location Richmond, VIC Builder Ficus Constructions Photographer Andrew Wuttke

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 acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which The National stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture.

Awards

BPN Sustainability Awards 2012 Small Commercial

IDEA Awards 2012 Hospitality

VIC Architecture Awards 2012 Interior Architecture (Commendation)

BPN Sustainability Awards 2011 Large Commercial

Press/Media

The National Hotel by Breathe Architecture (Indesign Live)

The National Hotel (The Urbanlist)

The National Hotel (Australian Design Review)

The National

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.

Type Hospitality

Completion 2012

Location Richmond, VIC

Builder Ficus Constructions

Photographer Andrew Wuttke

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which The National stands. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture.

Awards

BPN Sustainability Awards 2011 Large Commercial

BPN Sustainability Awards 2012 Small Commercial

IDEA Awards 2012 Hospitality

VIC Architecture Awards 2012 Interior Architecture (Commendation)

Press/Media

The National Hotel by Breathe Architecture (Indesign Live)

The National Hotel (The Urbanlist)

The National Hotel (Australian Design Review)