This project reimagines the historic Melbourne Steamship Building on King Street to accommodate a head office for the Development company Excelon as well as a number of flexible co-working spaces. The principle characteristic is a balance between heritage fabric and a fresh visual identity.
Our priorities were informed by a desire to preserve and reveal the intact heritage elements of the historic building but also to carefully limit alterations to avoid regulatory triggers that would require large scale, invasive works. A light touch was required.
Many parts of the existing interior had survived incremental change over its long life. We set out to preserve remaining heritage fabric and make it integral to a fresh re-imagining of the interior. Our starting point was to find a visual language which could re-frame the dominant heritage elements in a manner which would retain their significance and make them relevant in a new context.
We refrained from significant structural changes, instead relying on a hard working colour palette, improved lighting and a detailed approach to furniture specification and lay-outs. There is a discipline in the use of colour and texture and a strong emphasis on flexibility and diversity in furniture arrangements.