Extending from one end of the bar is the hotel’s 125-seat all-day-dining restaurant. Here, steel-frame chairs are upholstered in cool grey leather, pedestal tables have milky white Corian tops and, in order to divide the large 200 m2 restaurant into different zones, shimmering chain link screens add a degree of intimacy yet maintain the space’s transparency and flow . To soften the interior ambiance, the parquet flooring from the bar area carries on into the dining room and, at the open kitchen, a sweeping, contoured canopy is clad with African teak hardwoods and the walls are lined with mocha coloured glass mosaic tiles. Pendant lights are playfully positioned at varying angles that correspond with the shape of the building envelope.

Continuing from the opposite side of the bar and adjacent to the main lobby lounge, a contemporary, cleanly styled pre-function area expands out onto the terrace and the pool deck – an extension of the hotel’s four boardrooms and one large ballroom inside. During the evening, the round dining tables are lit from with within, casting a warm glow onto the veranda. Inside, the hotel’s railway neighbour is brought into play through the parquet flooring that again extends from the bar area and, sourced from a local artist, black-and-white photography of model trains. MKV Design also commissioned a local artisan to create an enormous wall art installation crafted from woven felt appliqués. Varying thicknesses and “bubbles” within the surface give the piece a delightfully textured, sculptural feel.

In the guestroom corridors, the strong contrast of crimson and chocolate and the oversized proportion of each door’s room number help to create a bold design statement. Carpet woven to resemble the pattern of train tracks, and large scale black-and-white train photographs taken by a local artist add to the drama and provide a sense of place.

The design of the 230 guestrooms and suites conveys the feel of an urban loft. A sophisticated, monochromatic scheme of warm pewter and taupe tones is accented in some rooms by striking splashes of yellow, and in others, red, as found in elements such as the large-scale Mark Rothko canvas print and the trim detail of the minibar cabinets. Elegantly styled modern classic furniture is constructed from stainless steel with leather upholstery. A subtle reference to the hotel’s Gautrain locale can be found in the carpet pattern reminiscent of trains queued up at their platforms, while floorto- ceiling glazing offers an unforgettable view of the Johannesburg skyline.

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