Garde Hotel and Anglesea restaurant interiors by Foolscap Studio
Nestled in the heart of Fremantle, Western Australia, Garde Hotel is a celebration of the city’s rich port heritage and vibrant local arts community. The 83-room hotel occupies a collection of heritage buildings, including former police quarters dating from 1897 to 1903 and a 1978 addition by notable architect R.J. ‘Gus’ Ferguson. In reimagining these layered structures, Matthew Crawford Architects developed a refined two-storey design that complements Ferguson’s striking off-form concrete work, while project architect Meyer Shircore translated the vision into detailed, buildable plans.
Foolscap Studio led the interior design of Anglesea, the hotel’s bar and restaurant, bringing Fremantle’s history and craftsmanship into every detail. “Our interiors have explored the concept of craft and industry, which are the foundations of Fremantle’s port heritage, natural surroundings and its community of today,” says Foolscap Studio’s Perth director Renae Tapley.
The team collaborated with local artists and makers in order for the design to maintain a connection with Fremantle. “Because we have a studio in Perth and many of our team grew up here, we’re part of the Fremantle community ourselves, which allowed us to work closely and authentically with local designers, artists and makers,” says Tapley.
Those makers include ceramicist Gavin Carver, artist Jordy Hewitt, furniture studio Pivello Terrazzo, and timber artisans Scarab Studio Wood. Artbank’s partnership ensures Indigenous works, particularly by Noongar artists, feature prominently, enriching the cultural narrative.
Anglesea transitions effortlessly from day to night. A breakfast bar along a communal blue-tiled table serves hotel guests in the morning, while the space converts for evening dining and drinks at the full-service cocktail bar. Locally sourced timbers, bespoke furniture, lantern-like ceilings and custom marquetry tables combine to create a warm, tactile environment that evokes Fremantle’s port and arts history.
Sustainability and circular design underpin the project. Travertine offcuts were repurposed in custom terrazzo tables and Australian-made sofas provide durability and adaptability, avoiding wasteful fixed joinery. Personal touches, such as hand-painted curtains and a ceiling sail by Jordy Hewitt, reference the city’s sunsets while concealing structural intersections, demonstrating the team’s attention to both craft and functionality.
“We wanted to collaborate with Jordy for a long time and being a Fremantle local, this was the perfect opportunity. There are three different roof profiles conjoining in the Anglesea ceiling, so the sail helped to veil and hide this. The result is a soft and beautiful overlay that conjures the colours of the sunsets in Fremantle,” says Tapley.
The hotel’s interiors continue this narrative in guest rooms, event spaces, and the lobby, offering an artful, locally rooted experience.
“The project-at-large represents the best of Fremantle, Perth and Australia’s design community, and we hope it provides a platform for this to be championed and sustained long into the Port City’s future,” says Tapley.
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