Mansion Hotel

Mansion Hotel is an alteration and extension to the existing St Joseph’s Wing at Werribee Park for a Boutique Hotel and Conference Centre. The broad design approach is to pay due homage and sensitivity to the historical context of the existing complex and landscaping to preserve the unique character of this park.

The additions comprise a three-storey wing, extending to the western end of the St Joseph’s Wing. The ground floor, raised on a stepped sandstone plinth, houses a pool pavilion and gymnasium with two levels of accommodation above. The new extension will be connected to the existing historic building with a glazed link to provide a shadowline. The same plinth and shadowline technique is reflected in the entrance porch. The interior also maintains references to period detailing and the use of post-colonial finishes such as polished timbers, rich fabrics and colour palettes.

The facade is rendered with tones in harmony with the existing building fabric. The proportion of the fenestration represents the rhythm of the existing facade. Detail has been added by using bronze sunscreens as a window head reference.

The additional wing completes a semi-enclosed courtyard area to the north, providing a formal gravel driveway leading to the entrance porch. All car parking is located to the west of the new addition within the leased boundary. This area is broken up and distributed amongst existing mature planting to achieve a subtle, landscaped result.

The new extension to the St. Joseph’s Wing is sited to have minimal impact on view corridors from the mansion and adjacent gardens particularly in the area of the Parterre. The overall landscape strategy has been developed by Tract to sit within the master planning undertaken for the site by them through the years.

Historically sensitive and unashamedly contemporary, the extension of Mansion Hotel is designed to offer an axial reference to the entry and maintain the formality of the existing building.