Ridge transformed boarding house rooms to a contemporary office and living space for design practices and professionals including Smart Design Studio. Formerly two adjoining terraces with rear stables, the building occupies a prominent corner position in Surry Hills; its length faces due north and provides an important streetscape to the shared pedestrian roadway of Ridge St. A contemporary steel and glass insertion within an existing masonry shell, this 2005 renovation delivered two levels of studios and a rooftop apartment.
Expand ContentThe existing shell of the building was retained with new large vertical openings cut through to reveal a layer of glass louvres framed by deep stainless-steel trims. A rigorous grid informed the approach to the whole building from the steel structure to the tiling set out, workspaces and joinery and lighting, establishing a clear continuity throughout the building. Internally, full height storage bays are located between each window opening and a linear joinery unit conceals the kitchens, WC’s and extra storage which runs the length of the party wall on both floors.
The building is an upfront and honest layering of old and new as expressed by the raw treatment of the exterior façade through to a smooth modern interior. The rooftop addition connects the double height glass banks of louvers with an articulated aluminium battened roof folding down as a screen to the back of the building.
Laid over the Ridge Street façade are new double height openings with frosted glass art panels which are located in the position of each of the original openings. This serves to engage with the collective memory of the local community and contributes a play with light on both the inside and outside of the building.
The work space has a pleasant outlook with excellent ventilation and natural light which can be controlled by the individual users and has a five-star ABGA rating. Plantings of Golden Robinias and Flax in the garden beds on the northern side enhances the streetscape, contributes to the summer shading of the building and allows for winter sun to warm the interior.
Bourke Office is a multi-layered mixed-use adaptation of a significant Surry Hills corner building. The invigorated building successfully incorporates flexible and functional office interiors and a two-bedroom rooftop apartment within a rigorously controlled contemporary architecture of old and new.
