Designed by Fox Johnston Architects, with interiors by Space Control, the Felix Hotel at Mascot, overlooking Sydney’s major airport, is conceived to turn the ‘short stay’ hotel stereotype on its head, offering a unique and distinctly different hotel experience to today’s ‘digital nomad’ traveller, while evoking the ‘golden era’ of air travel in the 1960s.
The new 150 room hotel generously embraces its location, tips its hat to an Australian’ mid-century’ aesthetic and offers its guests a comfortable, relaxing stay coupled with a unique perspective on the airport’s working runways.
The hotel’s design eschews the traditional idea of the impersonal ‘lobby in the ground foyer’ concept, opting instead to relocate the reception and public spaces on the top floor with a double height glazed penthouse reception reminiscent of New York’s ‘Boom Boom Room’. On first entering the building, guests are welcomed by a double-height open lobby which connects to the other public features of The Felix, including central access to their ‘sky lobby’. The ‘sky lobby’ is an area on the rooftop which sits above the main part of the building, and was designed to be a place for guests to socialize and relax while taking in the spectacular view across Botany Bay, Sydney airport and the north and east of the city.
The east and south facing windows are floor-to-ceiling, providing The Felix with constant sunlight throughout the day. The hotel also features a sheltered, outdoor rooftop cinema, giving the guests an alternate choice of relaxation space.
Each room, quirkily named in accordance with their level of luxury from Economy to First Class, has been thoughtfully designed to match the view and features 60s-inspired design elements. Floor-to-ceiling windows in each guest room – or pointed glass windows in the corner rooms – were specially chosen to give the guests a sense of connecting with the outside. The large windows also lessen the hotel’s energy consumption, as there is less need for artificial lighting. For more info on the Felix Hotel, be sure to visit its official website.
