A hotel’s success can be measured on the distinctly local flavour injected into the design and palette to temporarily ground the guest in their current location. This has been executed in the latest Four Points by Sheraton with a restrained Melbourne palette drawing cues from the surrounding urban landscape. Spanning 15 levels and housing 273 rooms, Four Points by Sheraton in Docklands exudes chic Melbourne charm with a contemporary language of slick glass, natural stone, warm timers, fabricated steel elements and subtle brass accents to unite the monochrome material selections. First impressions count and the heavily veined monolithic welcome desks, standing as sentinels to the entry, do not disappoint and firmly tunnel your gaze through the double height space to the grand staircase and lobby bar beyond. Gliding past the handmade brass clocks that line the reception wall and remind you, somewhere in the world it’s time for a martini, you enter the hotel lobby bar and subtly notice the drama has stepped up a notch. Plush seating in striking blue velvet and generously proportioned teal barstools line the natural stone bar, housed neatly underneath the layered blackened steel and stone staircase. The black bluestone lined lift lobby is flanked by a dramatic in-situ artwork by local artist Al Stark, encapsulating playful elements from the hotel’s waterfront location. The casual dining space beyond offers a fresh palette of rich leather seating in chestnut brown tones, light oak timber highlights, black metal and climbing greenery to break up the room. Guest Rooms continue the restrained Melbourne elegance, utilising textured wallpaper, custom carpet incorporating the moody blue tones, warm grainy timbers and lashings of blackened steel. The fusion of drama and style in this handsome material palette creates an atmosphere of refuge and calm. Not forgetting your sense of place, detail photography of Melbourne’s local icons adorn the walls as feature artworks in each room. Sandwiched conveniently at the buildings midpoint, the Sky Lounge and Health Club offer sips of rest and relaxation with a series of beautifully designed communal spaces opening directly onto the heated pool and landscaped terrace complete with cabanas.