Capella Sydney

For years, the Department of Education building in Sydney’s Sandstone Precinct has stood quietly, its golden facade forming an unassuming backdrop to the rhythm of the city. Originally designed in the 1900s by NSW government architect George McRae, the Edwardian baroque-style building has been meticulously restored and reimagined over seven years by Pontiac Land Group, owners of Capella Hotels & Resorts, and international firm, Make Architects. apaiser is proud to continue its long-standing relationship with Pontiac Land Group, with previous projects in the Fari Islands such as The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and Patina Maldives.

Balancing original architectural features with a contemporary design aesthetic, Capella Sydney celebrates the Australian panorama through its interiors, location and experiences. It is the first Capella property outside Asia and an artfully crafted celebration of the city and its storied history.

Local stories unfold throughout the spaces, where guests can marvel at the property’s collection of acquired and commissioned art. This ground-floor collection includes vibrant works by Australian artists Judy Watson, Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread and Georgia Bisley.

Guests also can unwind in the private ground-floor section, The Living Room, a signature space of all Capella properties. This space is also where cultural immersion and experience programs happen, facilitated by Culturists, providing a uniquely localised stay.

BAR Studio designed the glamourous interiors, which embrace the existing buildings fabric while creating a counterpoint to the once-utilitarian interiors. The muted tones of white and brown give the luxury accommodation both a timeless quality, and create a serene canvas for local craftsmanship, luxurious fixtures and eclectic but sophisticated styling.

In the bathrooms, our Australian-designed freestanding baths sit centre stage in the stone-clad sanctuaries that offer a bespoke collection of sustainable, vegan amenities. Working closely with Bar Studio and Pontiac Land Group, the baths have been tailormade to enhance the bather’s comfort within the confines of the available space. The apaiser design team developed very considered detailing, to provide both visual interest and to minimise the risk of water displacement onto the beautiful hardwood floors.

As a proud Australian brand, our desire to preserve our environment and the world around us, inspired us to create our own repurposed marble material – apaiserMARBLE^®. Our environmentally friendly material is made of a special blend of reclaimed marble, enriched with ethically sourced stone and minerals from the Australian Barossa. It contains minimal synthetic ingredients and no added silica or aluminium trihydrate.

Our bathware is created using environmentally sensitive production processes, crafted to be long lasting and can be recycled and reused as part of our production process at the end of its life.

To create your own custom designed piece of sustainable, handcrafted bath couture, contact our experienced sales consultants to discuss your next hotel, spa or private bathroom sanctuary.

Project Details

Photo credit: Capella Sydney
Developed by Pontiac Land Group
Architecture by Make Architects
Interiors by BAR Studio
Engineering by Built Construction and TTW
Photography by Timothy Kaye