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BAR Studio’s context-based approach to hospitality design is exemplified in projects such as the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, where interiors are designed to highlight the dramatic views outside and bring the landscape in. Suites and public spaces are furnished in tactile, warming materials, and guest rooms include an onsen-inspired bath. Images by Peter Bennetts

Melbourne-based BAR Studio is behind an impressive suite of prestigious hospitality venues in Australia and throughout Asia-Pacific, with the Park Hyatt Sydney, Rosewood Beijing, Rosewood Phuket, and Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono among their notable works.

By Sandra Tan

Though unique, every hotel in BAR Studio’s portfolio expresses a nuanced interpretation of local culture and design cues, in tune with the hotel’s surrounds. “For each project, no matter the scale, we’re committed to design responses that form a sense of place, grounding each project in a material and aesthetic landscape,” says co-founder Felicity Beck. “Ultimately, we craft authentic guest experiences that contextualize the local environment.”

“When we think about the guest, from their arrival at a porte cochère to their stay in a guest room, we want to make sure the hotel doesn’t just look good, but more importantly that it feels good,” says Beck’s co-founder Stewart Robertson.

Emphasizing the region’s prehistoric history, the boundless dunes appear to have been left untouched for centuries

A recent project exemplifying this sensitivity to both site and guest is Rosewood Phuket, the brand’s first Southeast Asian resort. Defined by dark wood floors and crisp contrasting whites, Rosewood Phuket is an oasis in the tropical heat. Private infinity pools and natural circulation between outdoor and interior spaces invite a more intimate interaction with the site’s idyllic setting. Asaya, Rosewood’s boutique spa concept, enables immersive wellness as part of a luxurious guest experience.

“Connection to nature is integral to Asaya’s holistic wellness space,” says Rowena Hockin, BAR Studio’s Curatorial Director. Here, that means relaxation areas take the form of enclosed outdoor spaces, while treatment rooms come complete with private courtyards.

While Rosewood Phuket emphasizes a year-round tropicality, the studio’s work at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono celebrates seasonality and continuous access to the site’s wonderfully transient vistas. Here, generous windows and glazing allow for an abundance of natural light, framed by pale timber and complemented by tactile, organic surfaces, and each suite is furnished with an expansive bath, offering an onsen-like bathing experience with a view. “We designed this project from the inside out to frame the views and bring the landscape in, allowing the guests to become a part of this evolving natural experience,” says Robertson.

Indoor-outdoor spaces, private pools, and outdoor bathing areas encourage guests at Rosewood Phuket to interact with and appreciate the idyllic setting. Images by Peter Bennetts

Beyond aesthetic and stylistic considerations, BAR Studio’s hospitality work is also characterized by elegant functionality: Service and operational processes are observed and interrogated in order to facilitate seamless, logical staff operations. Another common thread is a feeling of comfort, achieved through detailed public and private spaces designed to emulate the relaxed ease of home.

“Each project aims to create a feeling of a retreat and a continuous engagement with nature,” says Hockin. “But each interprets this in its own way, relevant to its unique location.”

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