Acquired by the White Rabbit Gallery located opposite, this project now serves as a functional supplementary building to the gallery’s retail, facility management and exhibition changeover activities.

Located in a Heritage conservation area, the Victorian era façade has been restored and re-invigorated with unsympathetic changes being reverted based on photographic evidence. Remnant lettering was discovered during construction, with the hand painted signage ‘Centennial Butchering’ being re-instated proudly on the splayed building corner.

Two clearly modern zinc clad insertions were made to the rear courtyard. The first being a new entry connection into the existing building, providing clear access for materials storage. The second more overt addition is the rear workshop studio. This sculptural form exhibits a distorted twist of concave surfaces that rise up to match the 7.5m parapet height. Internally the space provides a surprise modern take on an oculus which tracks sunlight across richly textured surfaces.

Project Type: Adaptive re-use

Size: 250sqm

Project Team: Andy Carson,  Shaghig Nalbandian, Wes Whittle, Kleber Lima

Head Contractor: Currenti Constructions

Structural Engineer: Cantilever

Lighting Design: Light Practice