Charged with elevating the brand to a more refined, boutique experience, MOSTAGHIM drew inspiration from the adjacent heritage-listed Royal Oak Inn (c.1829), conceiving a four-star hotel that remains respectful of its site and context.

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Built within the existing Fiddler Hotel entertainment and dining precinct in Sydney’s underserviced north-west, Mercure Rouse Hill comprises 78 guest rooms over four floors. The interiors take cues from the horse-drawn carriages that once stopped overnight at the Inn, layering warmth and character into the spaces.

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Navigating a challenging site wedged between a highway and a carpark, MOSTAGHIM designed a simple yet effective façade of blade walls and angled screens, referencing the timber shutters of the original inn. The screens shift in orientation to create a dynamic façade—acting as a billboard when viewed at speed from the highway. Beyond aesthetics, they provide privacy for guests, framing outward views while blocking visibility from outside, and also filter the harsh eastern and western sun.