Hecker Guthrie’s Triumphant Return at The StandardX Melbourne.

Hamish Guthrie, Josh Watt & Paul Hecker of Hecker Guthrie.

Photography: Shannon McGrath.

In Melbourne’s Fitzroy, The StandardX debut is anything but standard. Helming the interiors is the local veteran practice, Hecker Guthrie, who partnered with Standard International’s in-house design team, led by Verena Haller, to deliver a hotel that embraces youthful hedonism and contemporary cool.

Josh Watt, Associate at Hecker Guthrie, elaborates on their approach: “Our focus was always about weaving the threads of The Standard’s well-established design pillars with our understanding of what is locally relevant to Melbourne, and specifically to a Fitzroy hotel. We have conceived an honest and playful response that speaks to the location and experience rather than aesthetics.”

The hotel’s Corten steel façade, courtesy of Woods Bagot, sets the tone from the get-go. From the moment guests sashay through the front doors, they are greeted by a warm embrace that screams ‘Fitzroy warehouse apartment’ with a penchant for the dramatic.

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The StandardX isn’t just paying lip service to the local scene. Watt explains, “Engaging with local designers and artisans was important to both The StandardX and Hecker Guthrie. We wanted to create something that reflects Fitzroy’s appreciation for craft, together with hospitality and design.”

This commitment to local talent is evident throughout the hotel. From Charles Sandford Woodturning’s oversized timber pieces and Adam Goodrum’s furniture in the lobby to Sarah Parkes’ macramé art, the space is a veritable who’s who of Melbourne’s design scene. Add works by Jordan Fleming, Dean Norton, and Volker Haug, and you have a space that’s as much a gallery as a hotel.

Speaking of galleries, art plays a starring role at The StandardX. Curated by Verena Haller in collaboration with Hecker Guthrie, the collection features site-specific works that blur the lines between art and architecture. Dane Lovett’s paintings, suspended at jaunty angles above the bar, are a prime example of this bold approach.

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The StandardX Melbourne Hotel Facade by Woods Bagot. Image: supplied.

The StandardX Melbourne Hotel Entrance. Photography: Rhiannon Taylor.

The StandardX aims to be more than a place to rest your head, but rather a full-blown experience. From the moment you step through the front door to the second you collapse into your room (one of 125, to be exact), you’re in for a treat. Via the ground-floor Thai restaurant and a retail concept that’s part convenience store, part lifestyle boutique, the experience culminates on The Roof. This hideaway offers panoramic views of Melbourne’s skyline.

After years of shaping Australia’s design landscape, The StandardX is Hecker Guthrie’s triumphant return to the spotlight. It reminds us why we fell in love with their work in the first place: that uncanny ability to create spaces that feel both aspirational and warmly familiar.

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[Images courtesy of Hecker Guthrie. Unless otherwise noted, photography by Shannon McGrath.]