The design embraces the essence of industrial buildings from this precinct. This is both in an aesthetic sense as well as the functionality, economy and innovation that you see in these modest buildings. Visually, this is apparent in the composition of the façade as well as the basic, durable materials such as brick, tiles, galvanised-sheeting and steel-framed windows.
Expand ContentStructurally, it embraces the innovation and economy of industrial buildings, with precast concrete beams, structural brick roof vaults and spindly steel columns. Environmentally, the naturally lit and ventilated studio collects its own water and generates its own power, creating a carbon neutral building.
This building retains 80% of the existing warehouse footprint. The sawtooth roofs, delicate trusses, intact façades, and even old cranes and gantries were retained throughout, with the exception of the offices on the western street frontage which were rebuilt to suit our new functional requirements. For new construction, similar materials as the original construction were employed such as brick façades, expressed precast concrete structure and steel framed windows and doors however expressed and detailed in a contemporary way.
Long clerestory windows enable light to play a starring role in the single work space, divided by five linear desks for each of the specialist teams. There are freestanding joinery units that double as pin boards on all four sides, and elevated shelves between desks allowing for a collection of study models. The spaces behind these “pinboard cabinets” house four essential functions of the studio: the materials library, model workshop, canteen and reception foyer
The building is energy-positive with 260 roof mounted photo-voltaic panels, and all materials were selected for their embodied energy, reuse opportunities and general sustainability. Efficient fixtures and building automation allowed us to make our studio without AC, using openable windows, ceiling fans and radiant under floor heating and cooling to create a healthy comfortable studio.
Over the new workspace is a 33m long apartment that runs the length of the building. It’s made from four self-supporting brick catenary vaults that are offset from each other to allow light into the apartment. Inspired by the way that light bleeds between trees, this structure explores how light can seep through the cracks and skim across a surface. With little outlook in this industrial area, it frames views of the sky and street trees and focuses on interior architecture created by stacked bricks and gradations of light.
Apart from galvanised roof sheeting that runs over the stack of unmortared bricks and a thin layer of concrete, there is no structure other than the single row of bricks themselves. All other elements within the apartment such as flooring, fenestration, lighting and joinery are simple and recessive. Most of the furniture and many fixtures and fittings have been custom built for that space in a complementary industrial style.
