Novotel Central
Hotel design to enhance the urban experience
Challenge
Singaporean asset management company Ascendas-Singbridge purchased the Sydney hotel property with a previously approved Stage 1 DA completed by a different architect. Scott Carver was engaged to provide a Stage 2 DA for an additional 72 hotel rooms for Novotel Central, Sydney, as well as to make the front entry accessible, replace the existing roof terrace, and provide a cafe tenancy from The Goods Line in Sydney.
Insight
Currently the existing building turns it’s back to the heavy foot traffic along The Goods Line. Our solutions driven design team unlocked a new opportunity by making use of decommissioned kitchens and storage space that no longer served the hotel. Our exciting collaboration with UAP with creative detailing and a public artwork will breathe new life into the carpark façade and will tell a story about this historically rich location. This is further enhanced by a well-considered landscape design on the public domain for pedestrians to linger. In addition to the street scape, an oasis of a roof terrace floats above the diverse buildings in the Haymarket district.
Solution
The proposed works will now give the hotel a second entry and direct access to The Goods Line as well as add a café/bar, which will provide both day and night activation. Efficiency has been incorporated into room layouts by providing standardised room types which make for a better functioning hotel both with guest service and building services. The new layout includes new high-demand family suites, and minimises the number of rooms facing the serviced apartments and student housing to the Eastern site boundary. Given the site’s highly trafficked area, access for construction will be limited. Due to this, we have designed a pre-fabricated façade for the new extension, in order to minimise the impact of a tower crane and decrease the amount of time the public domain is interrupted by construction.
-
27,533SQM
-
8Storeys
-
72Keys
Collaborators
Laan Studios (Renders)
Urban Art Projects (Art)
Northrop Engineers (Engineers)
Stack Studio (Interior Design)

Heritage: Early Days
Heritage: Early Days
The existing hotel entry is located on Thomas Street in a welcoming Sandstone building with distinct arches and a colourful history that has changed as much as the Goods Line itself. The site’s heritage began with the Eora People where remnant bushland retains elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life.

Heritage: 1904 Classicism
Heritage: 1904 Classicism
In 1904 The Benevolent Society of NSW built the 2-storey Federation Free Classical style building, with the majority of it still standing today. It remained until 1959 when it was sold to a meat provider (T A Field), which made use of the prime access to The Goods Line tracks.

Heritage: Hotel Life
Heritage: Hotel Life
It wasn’t until the 1980’s when the major redevelopment of Darling Habour occurred and the port facilities were shut down. This made way for new development in the area, including the 18-storey Golden Gate Hotel, which forms the bulk of the current hotel.
Share
Related Projects