A new concept in boutique accomodation
After four years in the making, United Places Botanic Gardens is now open and pioneers a new level of luxury travel accommodation in the city. Combining international vision and local excellence, the hotel is situated in the heart of South Yarra, opposite the leafy parklands of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Derived from the idea of combining a hotel and home – guests in any of the 12 suites will encounter spacious and opulent rooms with premium amenities and personalised butler service.
United Places Botanic Gardens is the personal project of property developer and first-time hotelier, Darren Rubenstein, who explained, ‘United Places is a creative platform, built upon my very own experiences in design, travel and hospitality. I wanted to create a ‘home’ for the likeminded traveller seeking experiences that celebrate locality.’
Rubenstein has worked with a number of Australia’s most esteemed creatives to bring his vision together. Celebrated design firm, CARR was commissioned for the hotel’s architecture and interiors, Melbourne creative studio, Projects of Imagination to create the brand and award-winning Chef, Scott Pickett for the ground floor restaurant, Matilda, which will offer guests complimentary curated breakfast daily, in-room dining and priority seating in the restaurant.
United Places Botanic Gardens has a modernist yet refined textured concrete façade that overlooks 36-hectares of bucolic views. Entering via a discreet and alluring entrance, a corridor with a minimalist palette of dark metal screening and dramatically lit board marked concrete, leads to a specially commissioned kinetic sculpture, hanging from an asymmetrical conical void by Melbourne artist, Laura Woodward.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a team of butlers and taken directly to their rooms to be checked-in – overthrowing norms of cluttered reception desks and queues. ‘Butlers will be as present or discreet as the guest would like’, explains General Manager, Marcus Pelham, ‘ensuring their every need is catered to – from valet laundry service to private picnic set-up and everything in-between. Its all about a personal experience and personal space.’
Spanning three floors, there are nine one-bedroom suites and three two-bedroom suites that have large sunken bathtubs overlooking the city’s skyline. ‘Each suite has its own personality and dichotomy of spaces that create theatre and a heightened sensibility. Its all very Melbourne.’ Says Chris McCue, Director of Architecture at CARR. 
The ‘extroverts’ (Garden Suites and Penthouses) overlook the moving trees of the Royal Botanic Gardens and connect with the public sphere of passers-by. The ‘introverts’ (Urban Suites and Penthouses) are a private, south-facing retreat with views of the neighbourhood’s historic mansions and red brick industrial apartments.
The interior colour scheme of Garden and Urban facing suites reflect their personality, with green and pink accents respectively. They each have a sumptuous and richly textured material palette, with original designer furniture including the iconic velvet Redondo sofa by Patricia Urquiola and distinctively Australian Scape Chair by Grant Featherston.
Textural embellishments in the suites – velvet drapes, 100% organic cotton sheets, richly coloured hardwood floors, bathroom pods clad in charcoal-tinted one-way mirror – are paired with the homely comforts of a well-equipped kitchen and recessed terrace with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
Unlike any other hotel in Australia, United Places Botanic Gardens offers guest’s full-sized Santal 33 amenities by cult beauty brand, Le Labo, and is the only hotel globally to offer Sullivan’s Cove Whisky – winner of the World’s Best Whisky 2014 and 2018 – in the minibar.
United Places Botanic Gardens exemplifies excellence in design, service, experience and hospitality at every touch point. Rooms start from $650 per night and include breakfast from Matilda, WiFi and Netflix.
