Heritage-listed St Kilda landmark the Village Belle Hotel has been “reborn” courtesy of an extensive makeover and extension.
Built 1891, the two-storey Victorian building boasted an elegant frontage, featuring ornate sandstone and keystone arches.
The multi-million-dollar overhaul has included construction of a striking, steel-framed 200 square metre roofing system over the adjoining outdoor area, which can retract glass panels to facilitate weather and climate control, while all the time providing an abundance of natural light.
The roofing system was a product of industrial design firm Tilt, and required a reduced pitch to accommodate internal height at the lower end of the two-level structure.
The Hotel’s façade has been painstakingly restored, now a brilliant seaside white, with the rectification of a period-specific roofline parapet. The side of the building addressing the outdoor area is presented in a distressed style of exposed bricks, bridging the restored historic with the modern look of the enclosed garden.
Co-owner David Shannon said the well-loved old hotel was looking tired, and in the pursuit of drawing patrons back determined it was time to bring it “into the 21st century”.
Works were not all cosmetic, with the building in need of upgrades to all services, including water and power.
At the front of the pub is the wedge-shaped public bar, on the corner with Smith Street. This has been renewed in the tradition of an old-fashioned front bar, albeit redesigned to meet modern demands.
The rest of the Hotel’s street level offers an array of distinct rooms, the layout casually flowing upstairs to the function rooms, with further lounge bar areas and a large external balcony.
The former drive-through bottleshop accessed from Smith Street, at the rear of the building, has been converted into 12 residential apartments.
The Belle continued to trade through parts of the renovation, executed by Techne Architecture + Design, which also worked with Sand Hill Road to produce The Espy, on St Kilda’s Esplanade. (December 2018 feature on The Espy)
