How the west was… win!
Posted on: 21 July 2014
At first the idea of a weekend away in Blacktown might sound somewhat counterintuitive, but bear with me. As you come off the barren M4 Western Motorway just before the Light Horse Interchange – incidentally the largest collection of flyovers in the Southern Hemisphere – you’ll drive along the scrubby edges of Prospect Reservoir… but ready yourself for a shock! Nestled behind the Royal Cricketers Arms – a glorious 1880s pub – you will transcend into a piece of super-modernity.
Atura Blacktown cuts an impressive, angular visage against a backdrop of clear blue sky. The gleaming white box celebrates beams and sharp angles, with glowing yellow signage that looks even better by night. This retro-futuristic vision is the work of architect Peter Israel, with a nod to Jørn Utzon – the man who made smooth concrete and exposed fittings so chic at Sydney Opera House. Interior designer Nic Graham, who made a name for himself on the cool interiors of QT Sydney and QT Gold Coast, adds some hipster credibility to the hard-edged, uncompromising space, creating a high-quality playground for the common people.
