Background

The design explores the opportunities resulting from shifts in global power and addresses the trend for user experience. It combined three very distinct, and in many ways, contradictory concepts.

Introduction

There has been more than a 1000% increase in global tourism spending in the last 30 years. Statistics show that the Chinese comprised 9.5% of the world’s highest spending tourist group in 2013.

Objective

To illustrate conceptually how the Koorie culture could be used to influence a hotel interior design BUT with careful consideration to the Chinese tourist gaze AND without excluding the preferences of non-Chinese travelers.

Poles as explicit cultural signs

Inspiration

The Koorie culture once flourished on Melbourne’s land. This design is a blend of Koorie cultural signs, Chinese common knowledge and modern attraction to outdoors to respond to the industry’s current travel trend of providing user experience.

Government

Society

Dream stories, artwork

Nomadic life, shelter

Hunting, gathering

Spiritual beliefs, rituals and events

Harmony, unity of nature and humans

Harmony and growing

Spiritual meaning

Importance of literary/art work

Authenticity

Yin-Yang, balance

Ideal location for business/leisure visitors

Boon wurrung held corroborees at Royal Botanical Gardens

Woi wurrung camped at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Concepts

Level 0

Relevant areas are highlighted.

The kitchen, offices, parking, storage, services in the basement are out-of-scope.

Movement from the entrance to the inner areas simulates the movement from the riverbank to the bush and the passage of humans to heaven

Symbols:

• square: Earth
• circle: heaven
• lines: connection of humans to heaven
• yellow floors: Emperor/Sun

Guest rooms are 38 sqm minimum

Level 1: Rooms with garden views

Level 2: Rooms with river views

Negative spaces emphasise positive spaces

High ceiling of the middle strip creates a majestic feel

Tiered building suggests stairs to heaven

Respect for the land.

Green roofs minimise impact on the environment, ecologically and aesthetically

Boomerang-influenced shape of the building

Qian trigram as represented by the three strips of the hotel

Appears to be growing from the riverbank to bridge/street level

MAIN ENTRANCE

Nature inside a contemporary space

Line of vision symbolises passage to heaven

Minimalism throughout the building

RECEPTION

Mural symbolises the appreciation of Koories for decors

LOUNGE

The “riverbank”

Water feature wall signals arrival at the camp site

Circular seats suggest corroborees/usual dinners

LOUNGE

Nature’s flowing pattern on the ceiling, floor and walls

Yin Yang: use of water to balance hard surfaces

MIDDLE PUBLIC AREAS

In the “bush”

Timber ceiling, darker colours

Wall pattern of level 1 suggests shelter

Mural in the cafe symbolises appreciation of Koories for artwork

OUTDOOR MUSEUM

The “courtyard”

Outdoor museum as a visual aid for talks

Etched metal wall of level 0 tells the Koorie story