Porter House Hotel

Located just one block from Sydney’s Hyde Park, Porter House is a unique architectural composition formed by the union of two buildings: the heritage-listed Porter House and the contemporary Castle Residences. Together, they create a single, cohesive development that bridges Sydney’s architectural past with its present.

The original Porter House, a 142-year-old heritage-protected building, provides the historical foundation for the project. Recently featured on Australia ByDesign (Season 7, Episode 6), the hotel has been recognised for the sensitive way its historic character has been preserved and extended through modern design.

Rising alongside the historic structure, Castle Residences introduces a contemporary architectural language inspired directly by its neighbour. Rather than contrasting sharply with the heritage building, the new structure draws from it—adopting arches and apse-like forms that echo the Porter House façade, reinterpreted through modern materials and construction techniques.

A cast-in-place concrete bridge with an open passageway beneath physically and visually connects the two buildings. This link allows guests to move seamlessly between the public and reception areas housed within the historic Porter House and the accommodation spaces located in the new podium and tower, reinforcing the idea of the development as a single integrated entity.

A defining feature across both buildings is the use of exposed and painted concrete. The concrete façade elements were finished using KEIM Australia’s Concretal-Lasur mineral silicate paint, selected for its durability, vapour permeability, and ability to preserve the natural mineral appearance of concrete. Rather than forming a surface film, the mineral finish chemically bonds with the substrate, providing long-term protection well suited to Sydney’s climate.

As noted by the project team, “the chosen materials and forms of the building have been prompted from the surrounding heritage buildings and setting.” This philosophy is evident in the apse-shaped windows of Castle Residences, whose forms are directly informed by the arches of the historic Porter House, adapted into cast-in-place concrete for longevity and performance.

Together, Porter House (Historic) and Castle Residences (New) form a unified architectural expression—one that respects heritage, embraces contemporary design, and relies on durable mineral finishes to ensure the building’s longevity for generations to come.

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Project Summary:

Products:	Concretal-Lasur
Location:	Sydney, New South Wales
Architect:	Angelo Candalepas Associates
Photography:	Rory Gardiner