Crystalbrook

Albion

Crystalbrook

Albion

Crystalbrook Albion • Albion Street

Set within a fine-grained heritage precinct in Surry Hills, a creative and cultural hub in Sydney, Crystalbrook Albion reimagines a former convent as an atmospheric thirty-five-room boutique hotel, where guests leave behind the modern rush and step into a storied past.

Through multisensory storytelling, the heritage hotel immerses guests in experienced and imagined nostalgia¹, which, together with domestic sensibility, inspires moments of happiness.

✱

On desktop and tablet, click a drawing to enlarge or an image to view in greater detail.

Use the quick links below to navigate between topics.

Crystalbrook Albion • Albion Street

Little Albion Street (northeast)

Albion Street (southeast)

❝

Experienced and imagined nostalgia¹ evoke a sense of restorative escapism. Domestic sensibility creates an urban sanctuary. Together, they inspire moments of happiness.

❞

Definition

  1. Experienced nostalgia recalls a simpler, safer and happier past, while imagined nostalgia evokes a comforting past never lived.

❝

Crystalbrook Albion is not just a beautiful building. It is a living museum and time machine conceived as a ‘total artwork’ in which architecture, art and landscape are inextricably linked.

❞

View our

Recognition

Our recognition reflects our commitment to purposeful design, integrity and professionalism.

Inaugural Global MICHELIN Key Awards

Crystalbrook Albion has received significant local and international recognition.

In 2025, Crystalbrook Albion was awarded a MICHELIN Key, making it one of the first Australian hotels to receive the honour. The accolade recognises exceptional design, architecture, service and character, positioning the hotel within a select international group of distinguished properties and among only a few in Australia.

Read the full MICHELIN Guide review.

Hear the

Client perspective

❝

We had a strong team in Terence Yong Architecture and Alessi Design and Build, who offered a remarkable sensibility and Craftsmanship in realising this vision. ❞

Paul Fischmann

Boutique hotelier and CEO, 8Hotels

Read the full interview

Encouraging words from others

  • Australian Construction Awards

    ❝

    Full credit goes to Terence Yong for his hip and happening hotel in the heart of Surry Hills and for his innovative design. The emphasis on character and sense of place is to be applauded. ❞

    Jury

    Inaugural Paul Davis Hotel Design Award

    ❝

    An inner-city convent converted into a thirty-five-room boutique hotel. From the grand staircase to light-filled communal spaces, the hotel fully meets its client’s brief for an experiential hotel that celebrates its historical context. ❞

    Jury

    Workspace Awards

    ❝

    I just love this project. I want to see more of it! ❞‍

    Trent Schatzmann, juror

    ❝

    I love everything about this project! ❞

    Kacey Weber, juror

  • ❝

    I am reaching out because my husband and I have recently purchased a terrace house in Darlinghurst that we wish to renovate.

    I would love to have a chat.

    We currently live on Little Albion Street, right across from Crystalbrook Albion, which we love!

    We often have family staying there when visiting and have enjoyed many afternoons on the rooftop... ❞

    July Autuly

  • Surry Hills, Sydney (Gadigal Country)

    The Gadigal are the Traditional Custodians of the southern side of Sydney Harbour. Their Country extends from South Head to central Sydney, with its boundaries understood through cultural knowledge and connection to Country.

  • Paul Fischmann

    Boutique hotelier and CEO, 8Hotels

  • A rigorous planning strategy achieving an optimal development outcome for the constrained infill site

    A holistic spatial approach meeting the physical and emotional needs of guests and staff

    A practical spatial approach enabling efficient hotel operations

    An enduring boutique hotel defined by timeless architectural distinction

  • Boutique hotel

    Alterations and additions

    Adaptive reuse

  • Architecture

    Interior design

    Heritage

  • Shed

    Archemy

    Space Control

  • Constrained infill site

    Strict heritage controls

    Stringent fire codes

  • Development application (DA)

  • Built

Crystalbrook Albion • Albion Street

Get to know the

Practical details

Set within a fine-grained heritage precinct in Surry Hills, a creative and cultural hub in Sydney, Crystalbrook Albion reimagines a former convent as an atmospheric thirty-five-room boutique hotel, where guests leave behind the modern rush and step into a storied past.

Through multisensory storytelling, the heritage hotel immerses guests in experienced and imagined nostalgia¹, which, together with domestic sensibility, inspires moments of happiness.

✱

On desktop and tablet, click a drawing to enlarge or an image to view in greater detail.

Use the quick links below to navigate between topics.

Little Albion Street (northeast)

Little Albion Street (northeast)

Albion Street (southeast)

Albion Street (southeast)

❝

Experienced and imagined nostalgia¹ evoke a sense of restorative escapism. Domestic sensibility creates an urban sanctuary. Together, they inspire moments of happiness.

❞

Definition

  1. Experienced nostalgia recalls a simpler, safer and happier past, while imagined nostalgia evokes a comforting past never lived.

e-crystalbrook-albion-surry-hills-site.jpg

❝

Crystalbrook Albion is not just a beautiful building. It is a living museum and time machine conceived as a ‘total artwork’ in which architecture, art and landscape are inextricably linked.

❞

Visit our

Recognition

Our recognition reflects our commitment to purposeful design, integrity and professionalism.

Inaugural Global MICHELIN Key Awards

Crystalbrook Albion has received significant local and international recognition.

In 2025, Crystalbrook Albion was awarded a MICHELIN Key, making it one of the first Australian hotels to receive the honour. The accolade recognises exceptional design, architecture, service and character, positioning the hotel within a select international group of distinguished properties and among only a few in Australia.

Read the full MICHELIN Guide review.

Hear the

Client perspective

❝

We had a strong team in Terence Yong Architecture and Alessi Design and Build, who offered a remarkable sensibility and Craftsmanship in realising this vision. ❞

Paul Fischmann

Boutique hotelier and CEO, 8Hotels

Read the full interview

Encouraging words from others

  • Australian Construction Awards

    ❝

    Full credit goes to Terence Yong for his hip and happening hotel in the heart of Surry Hills and for his innovative design. The emphasis on character and sense of place is to be applauded. ❞

    Jury

    Inaugural Paul Davis Hotel Design Award

    ❝

    An inner-city convent converted into a thirty-five-room boutique hotel. From the grand staircase to light-filled communal spaces, the hotel fully meets its client’s brief for an experiential hotel that celebrates its historical context. ❞

    Jury

    Workspace Awards

    ❝

    I just love this project. I want to see more of it! ❞‍

    Trent Schatzmann, juror

    ❝ I love everything about this project! ❞

    Kacey Weber, juror

  • ❝

    I am reaching out because my husband and I have recently purchased a terrace house in Darlinghurst that we wish to renovate.

    I would love to have a chat.

    We currently live on Little Albion Street, right across from Crystalbrook Albion, which we love!

    We often have family staying there when visiting and have enjoyed many afternoons on the rooftop... ❞

    July Autuly

  • Surry Hills, Sydney (Gadigal Country)

    The Gadigal are the Traditional Custodians of the southern side of Sydney Harbour. Their Country extends from South Head to central Sydney, with its boundaries understood through cultural knowledge and connection to Country.

  • Paul Fischmann

    Boutique hotelier and CEO, 8Hotels

  • A rigorous planning strategy achieving an optimal development outcome for the constrained infill site

    A holistic spatial approach meeting the physical and emotional needs of guests and staff

    A practical spatial approach enabling efficient hotel operations

    An enduring boutique hotel defined by timeless architectural distinction

  • Boutique hotel

    Alterations and additions

    Adaptive reuse

  • Architecture

    Interior design

    Heritage

  • Shed

    Archemy

    Space Control

  • A constrained infill site

    Strict heritage controls

    Stringent fire codes

  • Development application (DA)

  • Built

Crystalbrook Albion • Albion Street

Get to know the

Practical details

Crystalbrook Albion • Albion Street

Quick links

01

Inspiring

Inspiring: Isometric plans ->
Inspiring: Isometric plans ->
Inspiring: Arrival and check-in ->
Inspiring: Arrival and check-in ->
Inspiring: Discover ->
Inspiring: Discover ->

02

Safe ->
Safe ->

03

Comfortable ->
Comfortable ->

04

Healthy ->
Healthy ->

05

Vibrant ->
Vibrant ->
Next
Next