Australia’s east coast jazz scene has suffered two big losses in the last few years. A few months ago, Sydney’s already suffering live music scene was dealt another blow with the closure of The Basement, a 45-year-old institution in Circular Quay (though there’s talk of it reopening in a new spot soon). In Melbourne, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club – once dubbed “the world’s best jazz club” by Lonely Planet and twice named Best Venue at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards – shut its doors in 2015.
The musical legacy of Bennetts Lane won’t entirely be forgotten though. Developer Aust Global Investment has announced plans to erect a timber, brick and golden glass-clad hotel inspired by the history of the laneway.
Designed by Breathe Architecture, the award-winning practice behind Sydney’s much lauded Paramount House Hotel, Bennetts Lane Hotel will channel the Art Deco style and grungy sensibility of the former jazz club across 44 rooms and 13 levels.
Breathe intends to take a similar approach as with Paramount, which had a beer tap installed at reception, a mix of New York-style lofts with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, rooms with enclosed balconies and some with Japanese-style timber baths.
Expect a mix of local references and unexpected quirky details, and nods to the jazz era, such as curved forms that reference musical instruments. A speakeasy basement bar will have intimate booth seating and finishes that are "heavy and luxurious, with deep hues and tactile sheen," project architect Bettina Robinson tells Broadsheet.
"Rooms will explore the notion of the brass band," Robinson says. "A direct reference to the instruments themselves and the stages they occupy; bespoke brass detailing, thick stage curtains and in-room record players allowing guests to enjoy a selection of classic jazz albums."
The hotel exterior will be by Plus Architecture, which has revealed initial plans for a five-level brick facade at ground level, topped with nine additional levels of shimmering gold glass, punctuated by greenery.
The hotel’s vertical plane will be bookended by two penthouses set back at the upper levels, and a cafe area at ground level will spill out onto the laneway.
"The top two penthouse suites will be the most deluxe," says Robinson. "Nodding to traditional, pre-1940s jazz with its grandeur and glamour."
Construction is expected to commence on Bennetts Lane Hotel early next year, with a planned open date of mid-2020.
