QA Hotel

Client: Fortitudo Group

Project Type: Public Bar Redevelopment & Venue Refresh

Status: Completed(2025)

Location: New Farm, QLD

Builder: Open Projects Group

Photographer: Studio Blackardt

PROJECT STATS

Brief

QA Hotel engaged Design Intent Studio to undertake a complete redesign of its public bar, transforming an ageing, inefficient space into a contemporary hospitality environment that remains respectful to the venue’s heritage character. The project also included a targeted refresh of the hotel’s public bathrooms to ensure consistency across guest-facing areas.

Design Intent

The new bar at QA Hotel is designed to elevate both service and guest experience. Repositioned refrigeration, POS, and washing zones, along with clearly defined wet, dry, and service areas, optimise workflow during peak periods. As a visual centerpiece, the bar features a cohesive material palette and thoughtfully layered lighting to enhance ambiance. Durable, high-quality finishes, upgraded flooring, and stainless steel elements ensure long-lasting performance in this high-traffic space.

Project Background & Objectives

The existing bar no longer met operational requirements or guest expectations. The layout restricted staff circulation, equipment placement was inefficient, and finishes felt disconnected from the hotel’s historic atmosphere.
The redesign needed to:

Establish a visually defining bar that becomes the centrepiece of the venue.
Improve workflow, equipment zoning and operational efficiency.
Introduce a material palette that aligns with the heritage fabric of the hotel.
Elevate the guest experience through lighting, atmosphere and detailing.
Refresh key bathroom amenities to complement the broader venue upgrade.

Design Intent Studio provided full documentation across all stages, from initial design brief through to final construction drawings.

Scope of Works

Public Bar Redevelopment
The project involved a full transformation of the bar environment, including:

Removal of the existing bar, backbar and associated services.
New bar footprint designing improved staff circulation and guest engagement.
Custom bar front, backbar, gantry, shelving and joinery.
Specification of all materials, finishes, lighting and hardware.
Integration of stainless-steel work zones, sinks, ice wells and equipment.
Updated electrical, plumbing, lighting and ceiling plans.

Bathroom Refresh
Secondary works included new washplanes, mirrors, tiling and lighting upgrades aligned with the refreshed bar aesthetic.

Design Approach: Heritage-Responsive Contemporary Design

The design centres on materials and detailing that honour the hotel’s original character while modernising the space for contemporary hospitality service. The palette draws heavily on authentic materials — stone, brass, timber — paired with concealed lighting and refined joinery detailing.

The result is a bar environment that feels cohesive with the building’s existing architectural language while delivering a renewed, elevated guest experience.

Key Design Features & Material Strategy

Marble Flute Bar Front

Product: Curve Marble Verde Aosta Tile, 30×600mm (#T41672)

The fluted marble forms the bar’s signature identity, establishing rhythm, shadow and visual presence. Its tonal variation complements the building’s heritage palette.

Timber Barfront

Product: Porta Contours Timber Battens — Tasmanian Oak

Tasmanian Oak battens (Pinnacle LINH7821) soften the stone frontage and introduce a refined, contemporary timber expression. Stained to match Laminex Aged Walnut, they contribute vertical texture and warmth.

Timber Bar Top

Product: Tasmanian Oak Hardwood

A solid timber bar top provides a durable, tactile counter surface and visually anchors the material palette.
Its natural grain and warm undertone align with the hotel’s historical character.

Brass Foot Rail & Hardware

Product: Paddington Hardware

The bar incorporates polished brass elements including the 38mm foot rail, brackets and end caps, along with brass gallery rails and gantry hardware. These details reinforce the traditional pub aesthetic while elevating the overall finish quality.

Custom Suspended Brass Gantry with LED

Product: Brushed Brass

A ceiling-mounted gantry defines the bar’s vertical composition.
Its integrated LED lighting provides both task illumination and ambient glow, while brass components tie into the broader material palette.

LED lit Backbar Shelving with Bronze Mirror

Product: Bronze Mirror

Bronze acrylic mirror panels increase depth and warmth while supporting product display.
LED shelf lighting enhances visibility and creates a layered lighting composition.

Commercial Bar

Product: Commercial Stainless Steel #304 Grade

The back-of-bar environment includes new stainless steel benches, sinks, speed rails, ice wells and glass racks, all specified in #304 grade. These elements ensure durability, hygiene and efficient workflow.

Lighting

Product: Huxley opal pendants – for atmospheric warmth.

LED strip lighting – integrated into joinery and the gantry.

Challenges & Solutions

Integrating New Design Into a Heritage Framework
Material selections and tonal direction were carefully considered to ensure the new bar complemented the hotel’s historic character without replicating it.

Managing Existing Services & Structural Limitations
Electrical, plumbing and stainless steel layouts were refined to work within existing building constraints while supporting new equipment requirements.