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The Old Clare Hotel: A Blend of Contemporary and Heritage Design

10.19.16 | By
The Old Clare Hotel: A Blend of Contemporary and Heritage Design

If you want to stay in a modern, design-led property that still has a lot of soul left, then the Old Clare Hotel in Australia is for you. Loh Lik Peng discovered the property in 2011 and opened the doors to the Sidney boutique hotel four years later. As the founder and owner of Unlisted Collection, he enlisted Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects to build a glass link-way joining the two heritage-listed buildings: the former Clare Hotel pub and the Carlton & United Breweries Administration building. The result is the perfect blend of contemporary and heritage design.

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There are a total of 62 rooms and suites that fall into seven different categories: the Cornell Room, the Ambercrombie Room, the Clare Room, the Chippendale Loft, the Showroom Loft, the Mary O’ Suite, the C.U.B. Suite, and the Double Date with Old Clare.

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Peng made sure not only to consider every detail of the hotel but also retain the iconic aesthetics of the property. The rooms feature high ceilings, large original framed windows, heritage timber paneling, original exposed walls, and quirky objects.

For a fresh and unconventional touch, design and manufacturing company .PSLAB oversaw the lighting design, creating black lacquered steel “car light” wall fixtures and custom-made powder coated pendant lights with hand-blown bulbs.

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Facilities include the Clare Bar (restored while staying true to its roots), a rooftop bar and pool, a gym, and meeting room.

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What: The Old Clare Hotel
Where: 1 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008
How much? Rooms and suites start at approximately $205 per night
Highlights: As a contemporary but soulful hotel, the Old Clare Hotel boasts modern fixtures and objects that complement the building’s iconic features.
Design draw: .PSLAB, a design company known for its custom design and build lighting service, outfitted the interiors of the hotel.
Book it: Visit the Old Clare Hotel.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.