Anchored in community, The Calile connects guests to Brisbane’s most vibrant lifestyle precinct, James Street.
Australia’s first urban resort The Calile Hotel opened its doors in the sunny city of Brisbane. Keen to learn more about the tropical urban experience by Richards & Spence, we sought an exclusive tour.
Brisbane-based firm Richards & Spence are the name behind an exciting new chapter in their city, bringing new life and look to the James Street precinct in the Fortitude Valley.
Characterised by the concrete and geometric, their latest and perhaps the most highly anticipated development of the precinct is The Calile Hotel. Taking the lead from hot urban spots in the world, the 175-room architectural hotel draws on the tropical Queensland climate as the foundation for this Australian first.
Living outdoors for most of the year is a quintessential part of a Queenslander’s lifestyle. So Richards and Spence set out to sow Brisbane’s warm and tropical weather into every aspect of how The Calile Hotel is experienced. At the centre of the resort, the elevated, centrally located pool and deck area lets you soak up the rays on a sun lounge, sit under a cabana or dine outdoors. The rooms aren’t isolated from this easy, breezy (and completely luxurious) outdoor living, with a mix of pool-side and terrace-style balconies and two private rooftop terraces. As Richards and Spence co-director Adrian Spence puts it, “The naturally ventilated rooms allow guests to share our unique outdoor lifestyle again reinforcing a sense of place that is uniquely Brisbane.”
Behind the 270,000 Brickworks bricks is an interior that resembles a whimsy and playful ethos. Open-air spaces and breezeways link to well-appointed suits, of sisal matting, marble finishes, cork floors and concrete details. Here in these pastel, milky-coloured rooms you will find all the trimmings; custom linen robes, Grown Alchemist bath amenities, locally sourced mini bar and motorised blackout blinds. With comfort and climate key, the dedicated living area offers a primo day bed and dining area.
The hotel feature a symphony of texture—travertine underfoot, cork and sisal in rooms, marble and brass in the details.
When you think of designer stays in different cities they are often focused around conferences and as Adrian Spence says, “pitched to the corporate market”. In a bid to change that, The Calile Hotel hopes to be the location for all – be it formal, less-formal and conference events – while redirecting eyes to the pool and hotel’s surrounds. Beyond the in-room amenities and leisure facilities, The Calile Hotel is host to an award-winning restaurant, day spa, cocktail bar and fashion boutiques – all in the vibrant urban streetscape of the James Street precinct. So whether you’re feeling like fine dining (and wining) or some serious rest and relaxation – The Calile Hotel seems to have a handle on it all.
Described as Richards & Spence’s “greatest professional achievement to date”, The Calile is not just about where you stay but how you stay – becoming a design hotel that superbly achieves both in a subtropical city.
Building on the acclaim of The Calile Hotel in Brisbane, Richards & Spence has been entrusted again to bring to life a second luxury resort in Noosa. Set within a verdant bushland site, the new hotel will feature 153 rooms, suites, and villas, complemented by expansive pools, wellness facilities, and immersive landscaped gardens. With a design that honors the local climate, community, and natural beauty, the project reflects the same thoughtful luxury, sustainability, and a uniquely Australian sense of place.
"We looked to other hot weather cities with a resort focus to inform our design—Miami, Palm Springs, Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City."
– Adrian Spence, Richards and Spence Co-Director
Pale brick, travertine and timber form The Calile’s distinctive material language — timeless, tactile and true to its climate.
The Calile Hotel’s colonnades and courtyards create an urban oasis defined by light, proportion and ease. Spacious rooms, breezeways and poolside terraces invite guests to slow down and live with the rhythm of the climate.
