“To create a pub/bar/restaurant in a garden environment within a walled space”
The spatial volume of the ground floor was intended to be open and expansive with the fully glazed ground floor envelope and floor finishes drawing movement through. This contrasts with the upper floor which is expressed as an elevated heavy block of small aperture openings with deep reveals.
The Ground floor Building was to be experienced in a “no walls” sense. The upper floor is expressed as a “block” of small aperture openings, as oposed to the totally glased ground floor envelope. The idea is to create an inclusive environment for locals and visitors.
The structure was brought in from the glass line to increase the feel of the upper level hovering over the ground plane.
The new building is mostly glass, steel and concrete. Blockwork and brick walls that have been introduced have attempted to blur the distinction between old and new within the perimeter enclosure.
Although the areas containing the kitchens, back of house and upstairs offices are part of the new construction, the detailing of the walls reference infilled windows, remnant walls and fireplaces found in many inner city sites. In line with this approach, the existing perimeter brick wall of the hotel was cleaned up and left as is, exhibiting its many layers of history.
The zoning and programme of the space is an extension of hybrid models of hospitality design that Six Degrees has been working on over a long period. The brief was for a demographically inclusive environment for locals and visitors. Orientation and internal site planning had to consider the residential/commercial interface of a 100 year old hotel in
Modern Richmond.
The project was about briniging back to life a derelict building and creating much needed green space in Richmond. As the garden grows and covers the walls with foliage, the builing will take on its intended feel of being an urban ruin.
A great team was involved in the project. The health of the large mature tree that was craned in and cared for during heavy construction is testament to this.
This project had some very specific conditions incorporated into the Planning permit. Subsequently the audio control system covering the 8 zones had to have facilities that met the planning permits conditions.
The audio is split over two floors and caters for the following locations: Ground floor consisting of the main bar, dining, toilets and outdoor locations around the property and the 1st Floor consisting of main bar/function space, bar/dining/function space, terrace/balcony and toilets.
The loudspeakers used throughout the property differ greatly from one location to another, primarily to meet the aesthetics but also to give focused audio coverage and controlled frequency response in specific locations. Subsequently different brands and types of loudspeakers had to be used around the property.
The overall combination works very well, particularly when you consider that the audio had to meet some very specific requirements laid down in the planning permit. Tests have been made to prove effectiveness.
The control system is by Bose, pillar mounted loudspeakers and sub bass by Turbosound, ceiling loudspeakers by Bose, Redback, inground loudspeakers by Bose.
Amplifiers used were manufactured by Australian Monitor and QSC.