It’s as if an ink dropper has been used to sample hues from Western Australia’s landscape to inform the colour scheme at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth (Boorloo). From the exterior’s pink mirrored glass, evocative of WA’s iconic Argyle pink diamond, to the lobby’s Kimberley sandstone and jarrah timber, the palette is a love letter to the State.

Naveen Dath, Director of Australian architecture firm Cottee Parke, led the design of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the first in Australia in almost 20 years, to be “both in and of Western Australia.” Dath says he’s most proud of how the hotel addresses the fundamentals of purpose, place and beauty: “It sits in Elizabeth Quay like it belongs there.”

WA is known for its dramatic landscapes and iconic rock formations carved by the elements. These natural forces inspired Dath and the architectural team when designing the two towers’ soft, rippling exterior. The Swan River’s hypnotic and undulating patterns are also reflected in the hotel’s façade, which Dath says adds to the illusion of it “moving like the river.” He says the hotel’s lobby was inspired by the Kimberley’s canyons, with “10,000 hand-picked pieces of Kimberley sandstone underlining that connection to place.”

The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, is a key part of the $1.4 billion Elizabeth Quay mixed-use precinct’s revitalisation. In addition to its elegant interiors, the hotel has a rooftop infinity pool with views over the Swan River and outdoor spaces that blur the lines between luxury and nature. General manager Dario Orsini describes the 2019 opening of what was, at the time, the 100th Ritz-Carlton property as a milestone.

“It represented the entry of a global luxury brand to Perth and was a marker in the city’s transformation,” he says.

In addition to interior elements inspired by the landscape Orsini says the hotel features works by local artists celebrating everything from WA’s wildflowers to its rivers and landforms. The statement chandelier in the lobby also pays homage to the state, with “275 lights that look like waterfalls cascading into Karijini gorge.”

With easy access to Perth’s CBD, guests at the hotel can pamper themselves at the spa and the rooftop infinity pool, “intertwining luxury with the rich essence of WA.” All 205 suites at the hotel feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering glittering views over Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan), Kings Park and the city skyline. Dining at Hearth also takes guests on a journey across WA and rounds out a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, says chef Brian Cole:

“All the food at Hearth, from the fresh seafood to native herbs, is touched by fire in some way. We have sourced the finest ingredients from the land and sea, from the Fremantle octopus served with native saltbush to the hero dish of dry-aged Wagin duck.”

The food and drinks menu at the rooftop bar Songbird also offers a seamless extension of the WA experience.

“We hope our guests walk away with a better connection to the ingredients sourced from WA and leave feeling profoundly connected to the state.”