With more than 15 years of experience across projects in Australia and internationally, Stacey was the lead project manager behind Reine & La Rue. For Privé, she continues that vision — reimagined in a setting of greater intimacy and discretion.
We sat down with Stacey and Rebecca, Founder & CEO of edition Hospitality, to discuss the philosophy, references, and vision shaping the space.
What is the vision behind Privé, and what kind of experience do you want guests to have the moment they enter the space?
Stacey King: The intention is to have guests feel an immediate sense of transition. Privé feels quieter, more intimate, and immersive. It’s designed to feel like a hidden world within the building.
Rebecca Yazbek: We want dropped shoulders. We want intimacy and connection. And fun — always fun, and never too serious.
There is a strong sense of history within Privé, just as there is at Reine & La Rue. How did you reference the past while ensuring the space still feels timeless and contemporary? More specifically, how did the history of the Safe Deposit Building, Reine & La Rue, and the wider precinct influence the creative direction?
Stacey King: Our approach to heritage has never been about recreation. We’re interested in understanding the spirit of a place and then interpreting it through a contemporary lens.
Rebecca Yazbek: History is the starting point — a frame of reference that anchors the interiors and the overall project. For guests to now enter and enjoy the Safe Deposit Building, rather than simply driving or walking past it, will be genuinely thrilling.
What was the collaboration process like, and at what point did it feel like Privé had truly found its identity?
Stacey King: The project found its identity when we stopped thinking about it as a collection of private dining rooms and started thinking about it as a spatial counterpart to Reine. The idea of the antechamber became a fitting and useful lens through which every decision could be tested. Once that narrative emerged, the planning, materiality, and atmosphere all became much clearer.
Rebecca Yazbek: The idea of Reine & La Rue needing a private dining room was always present to me as a restaurateur. To be able to offer that alternative two years after opening now feels like the project has come full circle. There was never another name or space — the façade was too good to pass up. We just had to be patient. Stacey was always going to be the right person to fully express the Reine & La Rue world, and now Privé.
How did your approach to designing Privé differ from Reine & La Rue, and what unique opportunities or challenges did it present?
Stacey King: With Reine, the architecture is inherently dramatic. The challenge was how to celebrate that grandeur while making it hospitable. Privé presented the opposite challenge. Here, we were working with intimacy rather than scale. The focus shifted from creating a singular room; we became interested in thresholds, atmosphere, texture, and enclosure.
