THE MAKING OF A MODERN MOTEL
The Mysa Motel – a seven-room, boutique luxury motel in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast – is redefining the motel genre through its earth-focused approach.
Every aspect of the recently refurbished motel, from its architecture and design to the guest experience, has sustainability at the forefront.
Owners, Eliza and Jase, bought the iconic property – formerly known as the Palm Trees Motel – and spent two years painstakingly renovating it by hand, preserving as much of the original building’s essence as possible and using second-hand materials throughout.
“Our mission was to renovate with as minimal impact as possible, so we kept the building’s façade and upcycled a lot of materials, including the original exposed hardwood ceiling trusses, which we repurposed for the carport and function area. What we ended up with was a modernised version of the motel with seven renovated rooms with added courtyards and a revitalised pool area.”
Eliza and Jase have been applauded by locals for resisting the urge to demolish the old motel and replace it with something more modern, consistent with the typical development on the Gold Coast.
“The architectural heritage of the Gold Coast has been disappearing at a rapid rate due to new development, so we felt it was important to try and hang onto some of it,” they said. “We sought to create a property that was a solace for the region’s heritage and environment, as well as guests.”
The concept of sustainable resorts and hotels has been gaining momentum in recent years; however, environmentally friendly motels are a rarity. With its minimal carbon footprint, the Mysa Motel addresses this gap.
Solar panels power the entire site, rainwater tanks are used to service the gardens and toilets; and each room is decked out with recycling bins, filtered water for guests to refill their reusable water bottles, energy-efficient star-rated appliances, and the option to save water by reusing towels.
“The original roof needed replacing, which enabled us to increase ceiling height in the rooms. To capitalise on this extra space and allow maximum natural light and airflow, we expanded all windows and doorways,” Eliza and Jase said. “With large windows and sliding doors, carbon-conscious guests don’t need to turn the ceiling fans or air-conditioning on.”
Throughout the renovation, Eliza and Jase went to great lengths to source used or end-of-line materials.
“Breeze blocks were salvaged from three different sites on the Gold Coast and were cleaned up onsite and reused in multiple different locations; bricks were removed from windows and moved to build up doorways, other windows, and bench seats around the pool. The bricks were also taken from internal walls that were knocked down and used to repair dilapidated brick work on the façade and the new carport wall structure,” they explained.
“Glass mosaic tiles found around the pool and some bathrooms were originally glass bottles that have been made into tile sheets; and all our decking and outdoor bench seats are made from a recycled composite wood.”
Eliza and Jase conducted thorough research into sustainable operations prior to the renovation, and in doing so, learned about how they could extend their philosophy to the motel’s grounds.
“When we took over the property, there was only one plant onsite. It was extremely important to us to keep, and attract, local native wildlife especially bees and local birds; therefore, it was extremely important to plant Australian natives around the property,” they commented. “Plants were strategically located according to light levels throughout the days and the seasons, which also helps deter some insects and pests. We then used eco mats in the gardens to prevent weeds and the need for chemicals.”
Through its focus on preservation, the Mysa Motel captures the quintessential 1960’s motel vibe with a strong nod to the Gold Coast’s history. This retro aesthetic has been carefully curated by Eliza and Jason and is completed with vintage wares scattered throughout the building.
“Where possible we used vintage items to style the rooms,” Eliza said. “For example, my dad’s old amplifier that he no longer uses, a vintage polaroid and old school telephone, leather recliners, courtyard chairs and pool loungers that were stripped back and re-enamelled, and repurposed dining room chairs and table.”
