Garde Hotel is an 83-room hospitality precinct located within a significant heritage site in Fremantle, Western Australia. Comprising three former police quarters (1897–1903) and a 1978 Brutalist addition, the project brings together adaptive reuse, contemporary design and a strong connection to place.

Foolscap Studio led the interior design of Anglesea, the hotel’s bar and restaurant, along with its lobby, event and meeting spaces, creating a socially driven environment that welcomes both locals and travellers. The design draws deeply on Fremantle’s port heritage, craftsmanship and creative community, realised through close collaboration with local architects, artists, and makers.

Bespoke furniture, locally sourced materials, and commissioned artworks, including Indigenous pieces curated with Artbank, embed cultural and material authenticity throughout. Spatial planning supports fluid transitions from day to night, encouraging ongoing activation and use.

Grounded in sustainability and circular design principles, the project prioritises durability, reuse, and local production. Garde Hotel ultimately redefines design-led accommodation in Western Australia, offering a layered, place-responsive social space that fosters connection, reflects its community and enriches the broader urban fabric.

Photography: Jack Lovel