The Johnson – The Interiors Addict

‘The Johnson’ Art Series hotel opens in Brisbane

The Art Series Hotel Group expanded into Australia’s east coast last month with the opening of The Johnson in Brisbane, taking its name from the Sydney born abstract artist Michael Johnson, whose work features throughout.

“We are pleased to finally unveil The Johnson and all it has to offer to the local community and guests. We have no doubt there is something for everyone to enjoy, and will set a new benchmark for design-inspired hotels,” says William Deague, CEO of Asian Pacific Group, the Art Series Hotel Group parent company.

Located in the heritage listed ‘Main Roads Building,’ in the Brisbane CBD-fringe suburb of Spring Hill, the modernist property was originally designed by the influential architect Karl Langer and a three-year renovation has seen it massively overhauled. The property now boasts a boutique hotel, residential apartments, serviced offices, a 50-metre Michael Klim designed rooftop pool, BBQ area and terrace and an adjoining restaurant, bar and café. The hotel itself also features a designer gym, branded Smart Cars and vintage Lekker bicycles that are available for guests to explore the Queensland capital.

The hotel’s industrial styling is the perfect canvas on which to showcase Johnson’s work with originals and giclee prints on display, all centred around an ocean theme – think rippling waves, reflected light and the glowing, phosphorescent creatures within. The art doesn’t end there though with ‘The Red Cube’ featuring too – the heritage listed large metal sculpture has been restored and sits at the hotel’s entrance. And like the other hotels in the stable, The Johnson will also feature the Art Series Hotel Group’s signature art tours, dedicated art channels, artist documentaries and art libraries.

Suites start from $180 per night. Book online.

The Art Series Hotel Group will add a Brisbane location to their stable of boutique, designer hotels this September, with The Johnson, a restored, heritage listed building that was designed by the celebrated architect Karl Langer in 1967 and housed the Queensland Main Roads Department offices for many years.

And while there’s no denying its public sector provenance, the building has been restored in such a way that Langer’s iconic and instantly recognisable grid design looks more modern than ever.

Boasting clean lines, smooth surfaces and expansive spaces, the building is being given a super modern makeover that provides an ideal gallery space for its namesake’s work, as these artist’s impressions show.

As with the other hotels in the group, The Johnson is a tribute to yet another Australian artist. Michael Johnson is a celebrated abstract artist who saw a major shift in his work after a decade spent in Townsville. His vivid works draw heavily on nature and feature intense colour that evokes his time spent in the subtropics – the perfect antidote to the hotel’s Modernist design.

Taking three years to complete, the restoration will see the hotel open in September with 83 suites and a monochromatic interior set to complement Johnson’s work. As with the other hotels in the group, the opening will give the public a chance to get up close to some of the most revered artwork in Australia. Johnson’s ‘Armour 2008’ is one such work and ‘The Red Cube’ is a heritage-listed metal sculpture that sits in front of the property and has been lovingly restored too.

141124 - Art series - The Johnson - Pool — Pool

Further proof of the company’s commitment to the cause, the Spring Hill hotel will offer art tours, in-room art channels and art libraries, making a stay a rather immersive, art-filled experience and one that we’ll be checking out when next in the sunshine state.

Tuna Tuna – Michael Johnson — ‘Tuna Tuna’ by Michael Johnson

See here for more.