Art Series [The Olsen] Melbourne
637 - 641 Chapel St South Yarra VIC 3141
T: +61 3 9040 1222
F: +61 3 9098 1556
E: reservations_olsen@artserieshotels.com.au
637 - 641 Chapel St South Yarra VIC 3141
T: +61 3 9040 1222
F: +61 3 9098 1556
E: reservations_olsen@artserieshotels.com.au
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The Olsen Architecture
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Architect Chris Hayton, Principal at Rothelowman said John Olsen’s art provided a ‘solid starting point’ for ‘conceptual thinking’ when designing the architecture of The Olsen.
He explained that their design of an opaque glass, lightweight delicate skin, or canvas, draped over the hotel facade, served a dual purpose. “The lightweight, white curtain wall alludes to a tent-like structure and the idea of short-term accommodation that this conveys. Its uniqueness also assisted us in creating a boutique, destination hotel,” Hayton said. “In addition, it evokes the idea of an artist’s canvas and we feel all these references complement each other to create a major hotel at a renowned South Yarra location,” Hayton said.
Hayton explained that their design included four different Olsen artworks to appear on the windows that would stand alone as complete works when seen from within the interior of the hotel but that from a distance, the façade would appear as one large, stand-alone artwork.
“We chose artworks for the windows that used a lot of linework rather than paintings that could have obscured the view,” Hayton said. “We did a lot of research into Olsen’s work to discover his inspiration and found a consistent fineness and elegance in his work that we carried over into the building design. Hotels are normally quite heavy designs but The Olsen is a celebration of fine lines, delicacy and a lightness of expression evident in Olsen’s artwork,” Hayton added.
Hayton said that the architecture constantly drew upon Olsen’s work without being too literal. “The architecture had to come from our soul as well, so striking the right balance was paramount.”
