Innovative luxury property developer Chiodo has announced the appointment of Studio Carter to direct the interior design of its new $300 million luxury resort, Fairmont Port Douglas. 

Studio Carter consists of a team of international designers that provide a world-class perspective on hospitality, creativity and wellbeing. Fairmont marks Studio Carter’s second Australia project with the team also being appointed to the Mondrian Gold Coast Hotel and Residences in Burleigh Heads. 

Scheduled to open in 2023, the boundary-pushing resort at 71-85 Port Douglas Road will be the first new hotel to be built in Port Douglas in 20 years and will offer guests a selection of 253 luxury rooms, several restaurants and bars, a decadent day spa, a treetop walk and panoramic conference and wedding facilities, all designed around resort-style pools and built to blend seamlessly with nature. 

Chiodo Principal, Paul Chiodo is thrilled to partner with the internationally recognised, award-winning design studio, having chosen them from a long list of applicants, for their longstanding experience in creating stunning boutique and lifestyle experiences for the hospitality market. 

“We are so excited to work with Studio Carter in producing such a unique and forward-thinking resort, unlike anything Port Douglas has ever seen. 

“We were taken by Studio Carter’s unwavering commitment to having a positive influence on the project through holistic and timeless design. Their ambitious vision for the resort was unmatched and it was clear their highly experienced team will create an artistic, yet authentic experience that our guests will connect deeply with,” said Paul. 

Studio Carter Founder, Robbyn Carter said that she and the team have enjoyed shaping the organic interior to create a remarkable hospitality experience. 

“For us, the Fairmont Port Douglas is all about nature first. Our design boasts a symbiotic relationship with the location; the design is in tune with nature and brings nature walks inside, with the installation of beautiful local plants that the Durie Design team will support in putting together,” said Robbyn. 

“The interior design offers a constant discovery of nature that varies depending on which area guests stay in, with features that are slowly revealed to guests as they

move through the space. From undulating walkways inspired by the local winding estuaries to a grand boulder in the spa area mirroring the landscape of the local mangroves; the design blurs the line between the natural exterior and curated interior. 

“It’s important to us to bring awareness into the resort of what’s happening in our oceans and within the local community. We will be doing this by way of high-end upcycled artwork and installations, with a focus on how these refined pieces give way to the formidable power and elegance of nature. 

“There will also be a strong focus on Indigenous artwork and we will work closely with local Indigenous artists to bring authentic patterns and designs into the resort, as a nod to the First Nations people. We will also use finishes like travertine, sandstone and local eucalyptus wood, sourced locally and sustainably wherever possible.” 

With an impressive portfolio of works spanning Europe, South East Asia, Asia, the U.S and now Australia, Studio Carter believes the future of design is grounded in a reverence for nature with Robbyn noting similarities between her homestate of California and Australia. 

“There are a lot of similarities between Australia and California, both have vast coastlines but are also home to deserts and this informs our design concepts - nature cannot be contained; our architecture respectively gives way to the power of nature.” 

In a stunning location on the edge of two UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest - the new Fairmont Port Douglas will be the first of its kind, in that it will be locally focussed yet globally artistic, cultivating a celebration of the planet, sustainability, humanity and luxury. 

Chiodo and Studio Carter worked alongside international architecture, interiors and brand experience studio, Buchan, and architecture, landscape architecture and product design firm, Durie Design, to conceive the Fairmont Port Douglas. 

For more information, please visit https://chiodocorp.com.au/.

About Chiodo Corporation 

Chiodo Corporation is a trusted and innovative property development and funds management company based in Melbourne. With a portfolio of $1 billion in active development and extensive property experience, Chiodo Corporation is uniquely positioned with a working model that has property development, capital funds and investment teams that can provide end to end solutions by working with industry professionals in the global landscape, from procurement, design and implementation processes for any sized development. Chiodo Corporation recognises the changing landscape of property development, acknowledging current environmental issues, and looks ahead to the conscious living movement to design spaces that are adaptable and built on the principles of sustainable building practices, integrating with the natural surrounds, being technologically advanced and supporting local communities.