During the past six weeks I’ve managed to stay in six different hotels, in five countries, on two continents. So, I’m feeling like a bit of an expert on hotel design and amenities. That’s why I took particular notice of the newly renovated Prahran Hotel in South Melbourne, Australia.

This classy small hotel provides a primer in thoughtful use of industrial materials without the usual overkill. The standout element has to be the innovative utilization of concrete drainage piping to transform the hotel restuarant/bar. Take a peek: