Travel Tuesday: Sneak Peek: The Olsen Hotel, Melbourne

Here's a little sneak peak of a new artist hotel, The Olsen, currently being built in Melbourne, Australia:

Opening in late 2009, The Olsen hotel is a tribute to one of Australia's greatest living painters, John Olsen. The stunning structure has been designed by Rothe Lowman Architects

The fifteen story hotel hotel will be draped in a canvas like facade of opaque white glass, while windows will collectively reflect Australia’s largest John Olsen artwork. An imposing, six-metre-wide mural, painted exclusively for the foyer by John Olsen, will set the tone for the rest of the hotel.




John Olsen (b.1928)

John Olsen is one of Australia's most significant and accomplished artists and is recognised for this both nationally and internationally for his energetic and distinctive art.

Olsen's name is widely associated with his exuberant and colloquial You Beaut Country series which firmly established his reputation in the early 1960s. He is also famous for his interpretation of Sydney harbour in his commission for the Sydney Opera House called The Salute to Five Bells undertaken in the 1970s.

Plants, birds and animals began to feature in his works during the 1970s and 80s when he travelled extensively across the country, giving new insights into Australia's regional and desert landscapes though he has always sought to capture a spiritual and universal dimension to the landscape and the natural world in his work.

Olsen has won many awards including the Archibald Prize in 2004 for his self-portrait, the Wynne Prize in 1969, and an OBE in 1977. His works are represented in the National Gallery of Australia and most state and regional galleries. His works are also held in private and corporate collections both nationally and internationally. (courtesy of www.evabreuerartdealer.com)

"Back O'Bourke" by John Olsen, courtesy of Prints and Printmaking.


"Tree Frog" by John Olsen, courtesy National Gallery of Australia.

Inspired by Olsen’s lyrical style, Rothe Lowman has included Olsen’s famous etchings of frogs and swinging monkeys in the design of each room. Olsen’s use of texture and colour form the palette for the hotel interior denoting a sense of elegance and timelessness to a truly unique hotel offering.


Main public areas will be hung with Olsen original artworks, while carpet will incorporate fluid freeform graphic elements inherent in Olsen’s work. All rooms will include prints of Olsen’s work on the walls and bathrooms will be separated from the main living space by translucent glass, subtly covered in a watermark effect with an elegant Spoonbill bird, purposely created by Olsen.

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