CAPELLA SYDNEY 

ARCHITECTURE
Make Architects

INTERIOR DESIGNER
BAR Studio 

OBJECT D’ART & STYLING
Simone Haag 

ART
The Artling

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Mike CASS Creative 

PHOTOGRAPHY
Timothy Kaye and Alicia Taylor

AWARDS                                                                                        Australia Design Review IDEA Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hospitality.
Dezeen Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hotel and Short-Stay Interiors. Design Anthology Awards 2023 Shortlisted – Hospitality Spaces (Hotels); and Adaptive Reuse.                                                             Eat Drink Design Awards 2023 Winner – Best Hotel Design. AHEAD Asia Awards 2023 Winner – Hotel of the Year.

The newly opened Capella Hotel has reimagined a historic 1915 Department of Education sandstone Sydney city building, into a world-class luxury hotel. Simone Haag was engaged by the hotel to ‘curate and style a layer of objects to finesse just about every room, nook and shelf’. The intent was  to collect pieces old and new to build on the historical narrative, but with a contemporary overlay. Team Simone Haag worked closely with Pontiac Land & the hotel management to layer the spaces adding with object d’art, books and sculpture for the lobby and communal areas, restaurants, bars, spa and hotel suites. Capella Sydney merges luxury with cultural connection, particularly in ‘The Living Room’ where in a uniquely domestic setting the Culturalist share the story of the Sandstone precinct and beyond.

"The Melbourne stylist Simone Haag has layered the spa, and many of the hotel’s nooks and crannies, with stylish objets d’art — a Murano bowl here, a wonky handmade ceramic vase there — and coffee-table books are arranged just so." ~ The Times UK

"This design dream team was further heightened through the addition of Melbourne-based stylist Simone Haag, who curated a layer of intriguing objects that add to the sense of grandeur experienced by all who pierce the threshold of the building’s sandstone walls. “We’ve gone to vintage markets, op-shops and Australian makers to collect pieces to build on the design story,” Simone says. “There’s Murano glass, vintage cocktail sets and one-off ceramics. The books we’re including were all hand-picked – we hope guests pick them up and flick through the pages.” ~ The Commerical Project

"At every corner of the hotel there are original artworks, books and sculptures curated and displayed, overseen by interior designer Simone Haag. Her curation is key to the hotel’s identity, as she’s ensured to support and champion Australian artists in her art selection amongst muted tones of Australiana." ~ Champ Magazine

"Over the past few months, Melbourne stylist Simone Haag curated a layer of intriguing objects to finesse just about every room, nook and shelf. “We’ve gone to vintage markets, op-shops and Australian makers to collect pieces to build on the design story,” Haag says. “There’s Murano glass, vintage cocktail sets and one-off ceramics on the way. The books we’re including were all hand-picked – we hope guests pick them up and flick through the pages.” ~ The Australian

View The Local Project X Capella video here

"Thank you Simone and the entire Simone Haag team with the styling elements at Capella Sydney. It was pure joy working with you and your team. From the initial planning to installation of each unique decorative pieces procured for the hotel, it was such a seamless experience for our entire team. Every single objects are purposely selected with intention which accentuate each areas of the hotel. It is with the help of your artistic vision that we are able to be the destination that is Capella Sydney. Thank you Simone and team once again!"

~ Marc von Arnim, General Manager