Projects are recognised across 18 categories, located across five continents including Europe, Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Africa, and Australia and the Pacific.

“In Another Space” category recongises hospitality spaces in anything from ships to airports, museums to cinemas. Woods Bagot’s redesign of Journey Beyond’s Gold Premium carriages has been shortlisted for this category alongside 24 other international projects.

The Gold Premium cars have been rolled out on Australia’s most iconic and historic trains, including The Ghan (which recently celebrated its 95th anniversary), Indian Pacific and Great Southern.

“Rail has opened up access to communities and views that aren’t available to other forms of travel,” adds Woods Bagot Principal Rosina Di Maria. “The purpose of the redesign is to attract a wider demographic, to experience and connect with Country in a more intimate form than just flying over it.”

Designing for a moving locomotive required creative thinking, navigating the challenges of motion alongside a compact footprint. Woods Bagot’s design required a comprehensive prototyping process, incorporating bespoke fittings and finishes alongside reusing and uplifting existing joinery. All new materials were measured against a criterion of robustness and durability to ensure the cars’ longevity over another century.

Conveying the beauty and romance long associated with slow travel, the carriage design respects the legacy of Australia’s most iconic railways, capturing the old-world elegance through the restoration of cherished original details, including the ornate pressed-metal ceiling that once existed in the Queen Adelaide dining car. Complementing the design, the dining menu features regionally-inspired, seasonal ingredients sourced across the diverse regions the train traverses.

Boasting earthy tones, honest materials, and nods to the train’s art deco origins, the contemporary design champions the real hero: the landscape.

“We wanted to honour what was outside of the train with a design that didn’t detract from the landscape, creating a harmonious connection between what’s inside and out,” says project leader Bonnie Hamilton.

The winners of the Restaurant & Bar Awards will be announced in Barcelona, Spain, on 31 October.

View the full shortlist here. 

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Isla Sutherland
Content and Communications Specialist (Australia & New Zealand)