The Rochester Garden House: From Site Study to Final Visualisation
Updated: Jul 30
The Rochester Garden House is a hospitality design project that explores the transformation of a heritage bungalow in Rochester Park into a refined garden boutique hotel. Designed as a quiet retreat within Greater one-north, the project combines heritage character, tropical surroundings and contemporary comfort.
The design process developed gradually—from observing and understanding the existing site to organising spaces through bubble diagrams, building the proposal in Revit and eventually producing rendered perspectives that communicated the intended guest experience.
Beginning with the Site Visit
The project began with a site visit to study the existing bungalow and its surroundings. Rather than immediately thinking about furniture, colours or decorative styles, I first examined how the building related to its environment.
The bungalow’s heritage architecture, verandahs, existing staircases, windows and relationship with the garden became important considerations. I also observed the surrounding developments, nearby amenities, pedestrian routes, traffic movement and the contrast between the peaceful site and the busier urban environment around Rochester Park.
The site visit helped me understand the atmosphere that made the location distinctive. Despite being close to commercial and innovation districts, the bungalow offered a sense of calm, greenery and separation from the city.
This inspired the idea of creating a hospitality experience that would allow guests to transition from the energy of Greater one-north into a quieter, more intimate garden retreat.
Understanding the Building and Its Constraints
The next stage involved studying the existing floor plans and identifying the opportunities and limitations of the building.
As the project was based on an existing heritage bungalow, the design had to respond carefully to fixed architectural elements such as the main staircase, external staircase, structural walls, windows and verandah.
These features were not treated simply as restrictions. Instead, they became part of the design narrative. The verandah, for example, provided an opportunity to create transitional spaces between the interior and the garden, while the existing windows allowed natural light and views of the surrounding greenery to contribute to the guest experience.
The study also helped establish the public and private hierarchy of the hotel. The ground floor was planned for shared guest facilities, while the upper floor provided quieter and more private accommodation.
Developing the Concept
The design concept evolved into a refined heritage garden sanctuary—a boutique hotel that combines British Colonial influences with a modern interpretation.
The concept was inspired by black-and-white bungalow architecture, tropical foliage, filtered daylight, warm timber, woven rattan, textured plaster, linen fabrics and handcrafted details.
Rather than recreating a historical interior, my intention was to preserve the feeling of heritage while introducing a softer and more contemporary hospitality experience.
The project was developed around ideas of quiet luxury, sensory comfort and gradual transition. Guests would experience a journey from arrival, reception and shared spaces to the more private guest rooms and verandah areas.
Bubble Diagrams and Spatial Relationships
Before developing the detailed floor plan, I used bubble diagrams to explore how the different spaces should relate to one another.
The bubble diagrams helped me organise the hotel according to function, accessibility and privacy. On the ground floor, the main areas included the reception, arrival lobby, café and breakfast lounge, work-friendly seating, guest restroom and back-of-house facilities.
The upper floor was planned as the private guest accommodation zone, with five guest rooms for up to ten guests, supported by quieter spaces such as a reading nook and a semi-private verandah lounge.
At this stage, I considered several important relationships:
The reception needed to be visible and easily accessible from the entrance.
The arrival lobby required a clear identity while remaining connected to the café.
Public and service circulation needed to operate without disrupting the guest experience.
Guest rooms required privacy while maintaining access to natural light and verandah views.
Shared spaces needed to encourage interaction without making the hotel feel crowded.
The bubble diagrams allowed me to test these relationships quickly before committing to a fixed layout.
Translating the Diagrams into Space Planning
Once the zoning and adjacencies were established, the bubble diagrams were translated into more detailed space plans.
The ground floor was designed as the social and welcoming heart of the hotel. The reception and arrival lobby introduce guests to the character of the property, while the café and breakfast lounge provide spaces for dining, informal meetings and relaxation.
A screen was introduced to create a subtle separation between the arrival lobby and café without completely closing the spaces from one another. This helped maintain openness while giving each area a clearer purpose.
Work-friendly seating was incorporated for business travellers, academics and creative visitors who may need a comfortable place to read, work or hold informal discussions.
The second floor was organised as a quieter residential zone. Different room types were developed to respond to the needs of solo travellers, couples and guests sharing a room. The verandah, reading nook and semi-private lounge created additional moments where guests could slow down and enjoy the heritage setting.
Throughout the planning stage, layouts were revised several times. Furniture placement, door positions, circulation clearances and the relationship between spaces were adjusted until the proposal became more functional and coherent.
Building the Project in Revit
After developing the space plans, I translated the design into a three-dimensional Revit model.
Working in Revit allowed me to better understand the scale and proportions of the existing bungalow. Elements that appeared workable in plan sometimes required further adjustment when viewed in three dimensions.
The model helped me study:
Room dimensions and furniture clearances
Ceiling heights and architectural proportions
Door and window positions
Circulation between spaces
The relationship between the interior and verandah
Built-in furniture and screening elements
Lighting placement and material transitions
Creating the Revit model also allowed me to move between plans, elevations, sections and perspectives. This made it easier to identify inconsistencies and refine the design before producing the final visualisations.
The process strengthened my understanding of how two-dimensional planning decisions affect the experience of a space in three dimensions.
Developing the Interior Atmosphere
With the spatial arrangement established, I began developing the material, furniture and lighting direction.
The palette combined warm timber, natural stone, rattan, linen, soft upholstery and heritage-inspired wall detailing. Neutral colours created a calm foundation, while deeper tones and subtle accents added warmth and character.
Lighting was planned to support the atmosphere of quiet luxury. Natural daylight was important during the day, while warm ambient and decorative lighting created a more intimate experience in the evening.
The selection of furniture also responded to the boutique scale of the property. Rather than filling every area, the design allowed breathing space around key pieces so that the interiors would feel comfortable, refined and uncluttered.
From Revit Model to Rendered Perspectives
The final stage involved creating rendered perspectives to communicate the design more clearly.
Rendering brought together the spatial planning, furniture, materials, lighting and decorative details developed throughout the project. It allowed me to visualise how guests might experience the hotel—from entering the reception and relaxing in the café to retreating to their rooms or enjoying the verandah.
The renders were not simply illustrations of the proposed spaces. They became a way of testing the design. Lighting levels, furniture proportions, material combinations and visual focal points could be reviewed and adjusted until the atmosphere aligned with the original concept.
Through this process, the project evolved from an initial site study into a more complete hospitality environment.
Reflections on the Design Process
The Rochester Garden House taught me that interior design is rarely a straight journey from idea to final image. Each stage influences the next, and earlier decisions often need to be revisited as the project develops.
The site study established the foundation. Bubble diagrams clarified relationships. Space planning transformed ideas into workable layouts. Revit revealed scale and spatial issues. Rendering communicated the final experience.
Most importantly, the project showed me how design can respond to an existing building without erasing its identity. By combining heritage character with contemporary hospitality needs, I aimed to create a boutique hotel that feels connected to its location, considerate of its guests and respectful of the bungalow’s architectural qualities.
The Rochester Garden House represents my journey from observing a place to imagining how it could be experienced—a quietly luxurious garden retreat shaped through research, planning, modelling and visualisation.
Conclusion
The Rochester Garden House project has been an important part of my development as an interior design student. It allowed me to experience the full design journey—from studying the existing site and understanding its heritage character to developing bubble diagrams, refining the space plan, constructing the Revit model and producing the final rendered perspectives.
Each stage revealed a different layer of the design process. The site study helped shape the concept, while the bubble diagrams clarified zoning, circulation and spatial relationships. Revit allowed me to examine the proposal in three dimensions, identify practical issues and refine the proportions and details. The renderings then brought the concept to life by communicating the intended materials, lighting, atmosphere and guest experience.
Through this project, I learned that a successful design is not created through visuals alone. It develops through observation, research, planning, testing and continuous refinement. The Rochester Garden House reflects my aim to create a hospitality environment that respects the bungalow’s heritage while responding thoughtfully to contemporary needs.
More than a final design proposal, the project represents my growing ability to connect concept, function, technical development and visual storytelling—transforming an existing place into a refined and quietly luxurious garden retreat.
Comments