Australian Traveller – August 2019

128 AUSTRALIANTRAVELLER.COM

BABYLON

NAME: LOCATION: ARCHITECT:

SYDNEY, NSW HOGG & LAMB

SITTING IN THE ELEGANTLY earthy

surrounds of newly opened Babylon, it’s hard

to reconcile the fact you’re on a Westfield

rooftop in Sydney’s CBD; the Middle Eastern-

inspired bar and restaurant has been designed

to evoke the former glories of Babylon.

“We started with the idea of occupying

an ancient Mesopotamian city – dining

amongst the buildings, ruins and luxury of an

ancient past,” says Michael Hogg, director of

architectural design practice Hogg & Lamb,

which brought the space to life along with

interior stylists Stewart + Highfield.

Rendered archways, terracotta screens

and travertine plinths nod to the past while

creating a series of different rooms to break

down the space’s 1200-square-metre footprint

and conjure the feeling of being in a bazaar.

Additional sumptuous elements speak to

the thriving metropolis Babylon once was.

“Balancing the historical references and coarse

materials, we inserted a layer of refined luxury

finishes:stonetabletops,brassedgings,soft

curtainsandcushionfabrics,ceilingsmade

fromgoldenbeadsandhangingplanters.”

Level 7 , Westfield, Pitt Street, Sydney;

babylonrooftop.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY: STEVEN WOODBURN

A SPR AWLING new Sydney bar and restaurant

transports STYLE CUES from the ancient CITY OF

BABYLON to the most UNEXPECTED of locations.

NEW WONDER

CULTURE | Inner beauty

CLOCKWISE FROM

LEFT: Rendered archways

and earthy tones; Golden

beads used to grand effect;

Babylon is made up of a

series of sumptuous dining

rooms; Details evoke the

famous ancient city.