Robbyn Carter, founder of Studio Carter, is not impressed by big brands or big hotels.
“For me, the world’s top hotels are not defined by their scale or brand, but by their ability to create a genuine sense of comfort and human connection,” Carter says.
Carter started her career as a sculptor and a waitress, which she says fuelled her love for interior spaces.
“At the end of the day it’s really about creating an experience, an unforgettable moment,” Carter says.
And creating those personalised moments can be difficult on a bigger scale.
“The most memorable experiences transcend standard luxury; they are about an authentic exchange of energy with the people and the place,” she says.
“My most cherished stays have been in smaller, often family-owned hotels where I was gifted a true snapshot of the local culture.
“These are moments that can’t be scripted—like crushing grapes with a neighbouring vintner in Portugal or an impromptu session sharing culinary secrets with chefs in their kitchen.”
Carter says it is this access to a community and a different perspective that she believes is “the highest form of luxury”.
And it was that experiential drive that informed Carter’s work on the recently opened Mondrian Gold Coast.
She says much of what went into Australia’s first Mondrian hotel was informed by the local context of Burleigh Heads. The “carefree” nature of Burleigh Heads informed a distinct luxury for the hotel, Carter says.
“It’s a luxury that may seem understated at first glance but it has been painstakingly crafted to be in deep conversation with the surrounding nature and the local community.
“This approach suggests a movement towards a more considered, place-specific design that finds its confidence in authenticity rather than overt opulence.”
But hotels are no longer seeking to follow the latest trends, Carter says. There has been a deliberate move away from fleeting trends and a focus towards creating “timeless spaces with a strong independent point of view”.
Carter says there were three pillars upon which this premise was supported.
“Enduring originality—designing unique, bold interiors that tell a specific story rather than conforming to a prescribed style,” she says.
“Hyper-personalised service—moving beyond standard service to create thoughtful, curated moments that resonate with a guest on a personal level.
“And focus on authenticity—ensuring that every element, from the design to the service, feels genuine, considered and deeply connected to the hotel’s unique identity and location.”
Carter says her design philosophy revolves around immersion in a local context to unearth its unique narrative, feel the elements, and to meet the local makers and artisans.
“It’s about listening to the rhythm of the community to discover how a project can provide a genuine contribution, creating a symbiotic relationship between the property and its home,” Carter says.
She also focuses on the poetry of small details.
“A guest’s stay is truly elevated by the details—the small, thoughtful touchpoints that are so easily overlooked,” she says.
“These moments demonstrate a deep consideration for the guest experience and the environment.
“I love starting with the poetics of a space… the feeling of light and how it bounces off surfaces, the silent tension between objects, and the power of negative space. These are the details that are hard to put into words but are deeply felt.”
Robbyn Carter will be joining the makers of the Mondrian at Burleigh Heads at The Urban Developer’s flagship three-day conference, Urbanity at the Gold Coast on July 29-31. For more details click here.
