Designing with Personality: Behind the Refined Layers of Gertrude Hotel
An Interview with Andy Dal Pozzo of Pepper & Well
Located on one of Melbourne’s most design-forward streets, Gertrude Hotel is more than just a hospitality venue—it’s a layered expression of character, creativity, and collaboration. The building’s rebirth was led by Pepper & Well, an architecture and interiors studio known for its refined materiality and considered approach to context.
photography by Oliver Lagasca, Jack E Carlin and Niki Schuch, published with bowerbird
Working closely with a visionary client who brought not only a bold brief but a deep passion for art, food and travel, Dal Pozzo and the Pepper & Well team reimagined the 150-year-old building with warmth, restraint and precision. The project is a masterclass in balancing old and new—preserving the texture and soul of the original structure while introducing subtle yet striking interventions that reflect the client’s eclectic style and global sensibility.
In this interview, Andy walks us through the creative decisions and technical processes that shaped the project—from curating finishes to integrating art, light and history. It’s a window into the kind of slow, thoughtful design that makes a space feel immediately timeless and intimately human.
How did their vision—and their personal art collection—influence your design direction from the beginning?
The clients have a love of travel, and mostly food and art. Their art collection is vast and eclectic. We spent a lot of time studying their artwork and the pieces that would best fit the new venue, and used them as a driver when selecting colours and forming textures that would create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere.
How did you navigate the challenge of preserving the building’s history while introducing new layers of character and warmth?
The building is about 150 years old, so it had a lot of charm and free details that we could work with. The first task we had once construction began was to investigate the building post-demolition, once the layers of the previous fitout were stripped. Here we revealed a number of free details, including an original bluestone wall that had been hidden for years. We juxtaposed these with new interventions that would celebrate the old—playing with textures in natural timber and wash paints, as well as intricate tile patterns.
What role did color and light play in redefining the mood and spatial experience of the venue?
While dark fitouts are a common choice in hospitality, earlier iterations of the space had felt uninviting. So, the first part of our brief was to brighten the venue. White provided a clean backdrop for the vibrant colours and textures we planned to introduce, while also highlighting the layered architectural elements—like bulkheads and pillars—that had evolved over many years of change.
White is bold, like you mentioned, and maintaining warmth was very important. For this, lighting became the critical ingredient. We collaborated closely with a lighting designer—involving late-night sessions to ensure we directly addressed the vibe—to refine the atmosphere.
How did you select and orchestrate these materials to create a coherent yet tactile atmosphere?
The answer is trial and error. We tested so many options. Different timber batten profiles, different wood finishes. We explored countless tile combinations to achieve the right richness and grain in the space. For the white tiles that now wrap the existing columns, we searched extensively for a supplier who could offer a particular white colour in a range of sizes and shapes. From there, we tested endless pattern variations before landing on the final arrangement. The floor was no different—we aimed to blend two types of terrazzo, one minimalist and one more expressive. Finding the right balance, scale and mix was an exhaustive process. But it was worth it. The result is a space that feels both sophisticated and inviting, where every detail contributes to the overall warmth and texture.
Can you walk us through the lighting strategy and how it enhances both the architecture and the artwork?
With the clients’ artwork in hand and their love of travel in mind, we set out to create a space with a distinct character—one that felt like you were a privileged guest in an artist’s home somewhere in Europe. To achieve that level of warmth and personality, we worked closely with a lighting designer, considering how the space would be used at different times of day. Every fitting runs at a consistent colour temperature of 2700K, grounding the white forms and allowing the artwork and soft materials below to quietly shape the atmosphere.
How do you see Gertrude Hotel contributing to the street’s evolving identity—and what do you hope locals and visitors take away from the space?
Gertrude Street has such a richness of character—creativity, culture, and great design are everywhere you look. But with that, it can sometimes feel a little intimidating or exclusive. With Gertrude Hotel, we wanted to create something that felt just as thoughtful and refined, but also down to earth. A place that’s sophisticated without taking itself too seriously. Hopefully it feels welcoming to everyone and offers an experience that brings people back, not just for the food or fitout, but for how it makes them feel.
