New Exotica: Club Tropical Suites, Port Douglas by The Stella Collective.

Hana Hakim of The Stella Collective has always loved the tropics. When she was approached to breathe new life into the privately owned suites at Port Douglas’ iconic Club Tropical resort, she saw an opportunity to blend the original 80s hedonistic tiki design with the sleek and utopian aesthetic of tropical minimalism.

Hana has a long history with the town, frequenting the region for the last 20 years. “It is an honour to work with the existing space and not to demolish and rebuild, but to refurbish and renew,” she explains. “For us the joy is in seeing this hotel thrive on its existing bones, safeguarding these gems from the potential threat of overdevelopment.”

Drawing on her vast experience with commercial design, Hana knew there was an opportunity rather than a challenge when designing the suites, choosing to evoke a study of escapism and sensuality. Seductive curves create depth and proportion throughout the interior. A custom-made King bed sits on a mammoth white tiled and rendered plinth, like an altar to rest and relaxation, melting into terracotta tiles.

In the bathrooms the otherworldly aesthetic of these Moorish-inspired bathrooms is complemented by the blazing tropical light that spills in through Babylonesque arches, framing the room—simple yet dramatic. The Stella Collective’s own new ready to wear bath ware brand rounds off the luxe experience.

“Club Tropical’s new design is really an artistic exploration of a mélange of places, cultures and people I’ve encountered through my travels. It’s a place where you feel like yourself and your spirit is comfortable. These suites are an ode to escapism, simplicity and art—it’s my interpretation of the New Exotica,” concludes Hana.

Zoobibi Concept Store in Hawthorne East, Melbourne by The Stella Collective.

Organic, curving forms take precedence over harsh or geometric angles, with arched openings delineating the various retail spaces and lifestyle displays in this concept...

[Images courtesy of The Stella Collective. Photography by Emily Yates.]