Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal
New South Wales
lyf Bondi Junction responds to growing demand for short- and long-stay accommodation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, delivering an 11-storey hotel within Bondi Junction’s retail and commercial heart. Conceived for a new generation of travellers, it reimagines the hotel as a social-living environment blending community, flexibility and the experience of living like a local.
The project engages the street and strengthens the pedestrian realm, mediating neighbouring heights while reinforcing the established street wall. Materiality draws on Bondi’s coastal character through raw concrete, timber and warm sandstone tones.
Public life defines the ground plane, where a café and lounge activate Hollywood Avenue and a generous lobby integrates bar, co-working and dining into an open reception. Double and triple-height voids enrich the spatial sequence and draw daylight deep into the podium. Across nine levels, guest rooms enjoy natural ventilation while rooftop communal spaces and a landscaped terrace capture solar access and expansive views.
Since opening, the building has played a critical role in bringing the lyf brand to life. Spatial planning, generous communal zones and clear sightlines actively support lyf’s social-living model, encouraging interaction while allowing guests to retreat into private spaces when needed. Guests consistently describe the hotel as welcoming, intuitive and highly functional – feedback that has translated into strong performance outcomes. In a competitive market, the building differentiates lyf as a social hub rather than simply accommodation, amplifying the brand, supporting operational efficiency and fostering genuine connection and guest loyalty.
Guy Lake, Design Director
Charles Cayeux, Project Lead – Delivery
David Strange, Project Lead – Design
Tom Cartledge, Project Lead – Delivery/Design
John Culshaw, Architecture
Alana Lee, Architecture
Angus Gregg, Architecture
Lucy Sutton, Interior Lead – Delivery
David Birtwistle, Interior Lead – Design
May Fong, Interior Design
Karlo Romero, Interior Design
Megan Paddison, Interior Design
Nikko Sudirman, BIM
Nikolay Pechovski, 3D Visualisation
Andrew McKie, Model Making
360 Degrees, Landscape Architecture
Acoustic Logic, Acoustic Consultant
Broad Windows & Doors, Facade Contractor
Elephants Foot, Waste Consultant
Enspire, Civil Consultant
GHD, Fire Engineer
Hydrabuild, Hydraulic Consultant
Inhabit, Facade Engineer
Jensen Hughes, BCA
Paarhammer, Facade Contractor
P&R Fire Services, Fire Services
Skilful Star, Mechanical Consultant
Scott Electrical Services, Electrical Consultant
Steve Watson & Partners, Building Certifier
TTW, Structural Engineer