388 William Street Offices and Hotel, Melbourne Mixed-Use Development, Architecture Project, Images
388 William Street Offices and Hotel in Melbourne
2 Feb 2020
388 William Street Melbourne
Architects: Elenberg Fraser
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The world is in flux. Barriers and boundaries that defined us" Gone. The spaces we inhabit need a dramatic rethink. And at 388 William Street, we think we?ve nailed it.

For Elenberg Fraser?s new commercial office and 5-star hotel project, we called on the spirit of the Roman deity, Janus – the twin-faced god of transitions. Why" Well, this space will be many things to many people. We wanted to shatter conventional architectural hierarchy by blurring the boundaries between one space and the next. And that?s what Janus is all about.
So, for a start, we?ve created something new. It?s a hybrid we?re calling a ?WOTEL?? where work meets hotel. With conventional wisdom abandoned, guests at SO Sofitel are getting more than a place to crash and a mini-bar to raid. Hotel rooms transition into flexible workspaces that encourage collaboration and autonomy. Guests mingle with office workers at the bar, on the dance floor, and at the gym and pool. Facilities are shared with the locals. So for as long as they?re in residence, hotel guests are Melburnians.

But you?ll also find Janus in the visual dichotomy of the building?s chimerical design, one mirrored face looking out across Melbourne?s central business hub, whi...