Primus Hotel, Sydney, Australia

Sydney’s hotel scene continues to flourish with the launch of a new property in a heritage-listed Art Deco building, once the Water Board head offices.

Located in the city centre, a short two-block stride from Hyde Park, the 172-room hotel has been sensitively restored by global firm Woods Bagot to enhance the legacy of the building’s DNA.

In the lobby, an original glazed skylight – supported by soaring scagliola columns – casts a rich lustre over the elegant bottle green, maroon and bronze colour palette below, while a shimmering curved brass concierge desk seals the property’s 24-carat impact. Similar hues grace the guest rooms, where bold geometric motifs on the carpets, walls and furnishings add a dash of contemporary refinement.

On the rooftop, leafy trees provide necessary shade for sunbathers lounging by the lap pool or guests dining at the open kitchen, a casual affair that ushers in a relaxed departure from chef Ryan Hong’s fine-dining restaurant downstairs.