Situated in the heart of Sydney CBD, InterContinental Hotel Sydney is a 5-star hotel that offers its guests uninterrupted views to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Sydney Harbour. Within the hotel complex are the State Heritage Listed former Treasury buildings which are commended for being an outstanding example of Sydney’s colonial architecture.

Preserving the historic fabric of the building and unifying this with contemporary materials and details, simultaneously delineating and unifying the old and new. The new Intercontinental Sydney draws from the grandeur of the past whilst introducing materials, details and furnishings synonymous with the relaxed Australian lifestyle.

Inspired by the rich red brick, warm sandstone and black and white courtyard tiles. Reinterpreted by utilising timber wall linings and joinery emanating residential warmth, sandstone and black and white tiles with contemporary scale and proportion and patternation.

The overarching refurbishment consist of the ground and first floor, including porte cochere, reception, bar, dining and pantry, 509 rooms and suites and the re-invention of the rooftop bar.

The ground floor planning was redesigned to enhance the guest arrival experience from both the porte cochere and pedestrian entrance. The Cortile, at the heart of the hotel, was bathed in natural sunlight and surrounded by greenery, referencing the original outdoor space and the Royal Botanic Gardens. A contemporary bar is situated here, providing a welcome retreat for guests to relax and enjoy the botanics and historic arches.

The success of the project was achieved through the layering of integrated conceptual threads, the use of carefully curated botanics, indigenous artwork in the heritage areas, and local artists interpreting the original concept and palette. The collaboration with the client and the builder enabled the successful delivery of the project, despite the market uncertainty and economic challenges caused by Covid-19.

The approach to the refurbishment was to reuse as much as possible and minimize demolition. The hotel was transformed with an illusion of new build, by intelligently reusing the existing structure and carefully recladding elements. High-quality materials, such as Spotted Gum, were prioritized for new material, and the building's energy consumption was significantly reduced through the replacement of windows with high-performance double-glazed systems and the upgrade of all mechanical systems.

The refurbishment has successfully repositioned the hotel as a luxury premium hotel in Sydney, with the introduction of three F&B outlets that are accessible to both guests and the wider public. This allows Sydneysiders to appreciate the beautiful heritage building and enjoy the uninterrupted views of the Sydney Harbour and Royal Botanic Gardens.