25hours Hotel The Olympia

The design retains and reconstructs key elements of the original cinema, including the reinstated primary entrance and a reinterpretation of the historic lantern that once marked the intersection – drawing inspiration from Oxford Street’s golden era of distinctive commercial buildings. These interventions are combined with a contemporary copper-clad roof, establishing a dialogue between the building’s past and evolving urban context.

The massing responds to the constrained site, particularly the adjacency of small-scale heritage dwellings to the south, by maintaining the original envelope and introducing landscaped setbacks. To further mitigate impact on neighbouring properties, a 2m-wide strip of land was vested to the southern neighbours, resolving amenity concerns while enabling community support.

At the centre, a courtyard garden is introduced above the State Heritage-listed Busby’s Bore. Inspired by Paddington’s terrace house gardens, this space mediates between built form and context while delivering economy by reducing the building’s footprint and construction cost.

Rooms offer two conditions: outward-facing to Oxford Street’s activity, or inward-facing to the quieter planted courtyard.

Ground plane activation is prioritised through retail and hospitality uses along both frontages, supported by awnings separated from the building to increase footpath light levels and street tree planting. Above, the copper roof and articulated dormers contribute to the skyline, drawing from Oxford Street’s historic commercial architecture.

Materials – copper and unpainted brickwork – are selected for durability and longevity, ensuring the building ages gracefully with minimal maintenance.

Sustainability is embedded through fabric retention, passive strategies and integrated landscape. The courtyard establishes a tempered microclimate, while photovoltaic panels cover the entire flat roof alongside rooftop planting. Rainwater is collected and reused for irrigation, supporting long-term environmental performance.

Additional interiors by Woods Bagot (F&B interiors including Palomar Restaurant and Monica Rooftop Bar) and Indyk Architects (hotel and lobby interiors).