A collection of 16 bespoke executive suites at The Darling at The Star Sydney has been reinvigorated with extensive refurbishments led by international design practice Fender Katsalidis.

Located within The Star’s tourism and entertainment precinct in Pyrmont, Sydney, The Darling is a premier boutique hotel boasting a prestigious Forbes 5-Star rating. The penthouse suites offer uncompromising harbour views and luxurious height and scale, and have been refurbished under complex existing site conditions to offer guests high-impact experiential moments.

The suites are inspired by the essential prerequisite of a hotel guestroom, which promises a restful and restorative stay. This concept of rest and restoration is uniquely expanded on to harbour a binary experience through contrasting elements of playfulness, joviality and sophistication.

These characteristics appear in the layering of design elements, subtly placed for guests to uncover as they venture through the rooms and corridors, fostering the playful nature of self-discovery and intrigue. This is best exemplified through the suite’s connection to the branding elements of emboldened red hues, threaded through furniture detailing, art and key spaces.

Fender Katsalidis associate principal Catherine Allington says the team’s approach went beyond aesthetics and instead focused on creating an emotional response with an intense interrogation of all possibilities.

“Working closely with the client, we have been able to align our goals, sharpen the overall vision, and drive the necessary holistic approach to deliver something bigger and more meaningful for Sydney,” she says.

“Our goal with the refurbishment of the two levels is to offer captivating experiences and one-of-a-kind memories through design. With this intention, each guest suite is reimagined to have its own unique visual and sensory journey creating distinctive moments that oscillate between playfulness and respite.”

“The deluxe penthouse suite with the all-red karaoke room is unrestrained in its playfulness, so this is counteracted with an equally enhanced atmosphere of restfulness through the hues of soft greys and sages in the bedrooms,” says Allington.

“Slight variations were also applied to the interpretations of each suite as we were working with many existing finishes being retained. Applying this nuanced approach created experiential vignettes and a level of personalisation that sustains a continued sense of discovery and excitement for recurring guests.”

Keeping the clientele at the forefront also directed the team’s focus on addressing the acoustics and journey to the suites, ensuring a high level of privacy is maintained throughout their stay.

The project scope initially began as a light-touch FFE exercise, before expanding significantly to include renovations of the sleeping, dwelling and corridor areas, and detailed art curation and bespoke furniture creation by the FK team.

“The team at The Darling and Fender Katsalidis worked closely together in redefining the essence of luxury accommodation, uncovering the connection between guest and establishment and the interplay of design and experience. We are proud to continue investing and expanding what we offer at The Star to drive visitation and attract even more people to our beautiful city of Sydney,” says Mario Naim, Director of Hotels at The Star Sydney.

The refurbishment spanned two years from conceptualisation to completion, navigating through factors like the pandemic and restrictions during peak seasons to minimise disruptions. The suites are now open to the public.