Photograph of the signage of the award-wining Bistro Moncur designed by Tzannes

The Woollahra Hotel & Bistro Moncur

Gadigal Country / Woollahra

Client Private Consortium led by Damien Pignolet / Ron White

Stage Completed 2007

A triptych of exceptional hospitality spaces

The Woollahra Hotel was developed over a 15-year period, commencing with the Bistro Moncur in 1992, to provide a comprehensive mix of office, social, dining and entertainment facilities for a variety of clientele.

On average, food and beverage interiors are demolished and rebuilt in a 7-year cycle – as testimony to enduring architecture and interior design, the Bistro Moncur and adjacent commercial building, including a bottle shop interior, are as designed originally. The Woollahra Hotel has had a more recent relatively minor upgrade guided by our work. The three buildings, bounded by Queen, Moncur and Smith Streets, combine to provide an exceptional, village scale environment appropriate to its location within the Woollahra Conservation Zone.

The upper level of the hotel has been remodelled from a series of service spaces, plant area and roofing to an al fresco bar and dining area – a rare facility in the inner Eastern Suburbs – which flows through to an internal bar, lounge and outdoor terrace serviced by a new commercial kitchen.

The triptych of buildings forms a complete block within the predominantly residential neighbourhood. The materials and detailing include zinc panelling, fine steel windows and blades, articulated concrete frames and curved corner elements – all of which respond to the historic fabric of the area in a contemporary idiom reflecting values and design thinking that integrates commercial objectives with public domain improvements and distinctive architecture.

Project Team

Directors

Alec Tzannes

Jonathan Evans

Phillip Rossington

Team

Amy Dowse

Bruce Chadlowe

Amanda Cooper

Adam Brewer

Ben Guthrie

Charbel Bou-Francis

Chi Melhem

Danilo Asudillo

Derek Chin

Dijana Tasevska

Georgina Blix

Georgina Smith

Imogene Potter

Iris Hwang

Jose Serrao

Kate Stanistreet

Nadia Zhao

Nicole Guymer

Nigel Sampson

Robert Kitel

Sarah Reid

Tasman Shen

Tim Dyer

Tom Randle

Mark Gazy

Project details

Client Private Consortium led by Damien Pignolet / Ron White

Awards

  • 2023 / Eat Drink Design Awards / Hall of Fame
  • 2009 / RAIA (NSW) Award / Commercial Architecture
  • 1996 / RAIA (NSW) Commendation / Interior Architecture
  • 1996 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)
  • 1995 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)
  • 1994 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)

Collaborators

  • Developer

    -

    Evanrace Pty Ltd
  • Acoustic

    -

    PKA Acoustic Consulting
  • Electrical

    -

    Shelmerdines Consulting Engineers
  • Hydraulic

    -

    Whipps Wood Consulting
  • Structural

    -

    James Taylor & Associates
  • Mechancial

    -

    Nappin Partners
  • Access

    -

    Morris Goding Accessibility
  • Heritage

    -

    City Plan Heritage & Architectural Projects
  • Builder

    -

    Beebo Constructions
  • Photographer

    -

    Brett Boardman
Photograph of the frontage elevation of the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of bar area in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of dining area in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of seating area in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of outdoor terrace area in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Elevation drawing of the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of dining area in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Photograph of the frontage façade of the award-wining Bistro Moncur designed by Tzannes
Level 1 plan of the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Level 2 plan of the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes

The scale and materiality of the three buildings combined respond to the historic fabric of the area in a contemporary idiom reflecting values and design thinking that integrates commercial objectives with public domain improvements and distinctive architecture.

Photograph of the arched timber ceiling in the award-wining Bistro Moncur and Woollahra Hotel designed by Tzannes
Evening photograph of the award-wining Bistro Moncur designed by Tzannes

Collaborators

  • Developer

    -

    Evanrace Pty Ltd
  • Acoustic

    -

    PKA Acoustic Consulting
  • Electrical

    -

    Shelmerdines Consulting Engineers
  • Hydraulic

    -

    Whipps Wood Consulting
  • Structural

    -

    James Taylor & Associates
  • Mechancial

    -

    Nappin Partners
  • Access

    -

    Morris Goding Accessibility
  • Heritage

    -

    City Plan Heritage & Architectural Projects
  • Builder

    -

    Beebo Constructions
  • Photographer

    -

    Brett Boardman

Awards

  • 2023 / Eat Drink Design Awards / Hall of Fame
  • 2009 / RAIA (NSW) Award / Commercial Architecture
  • 1996 / RAIA (NSW) Commendation / Interior Architecture
  • 1996 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)
  • 1995 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)
  • 1994 / Australian Hotels Association of NSW Award / Excellence for Best Restaurant & Best Redeveloped Hotel (Metropolitan)