The Mill was an opportunity to create a signature venue for the Milperra area, which was also an important aspect of the client’s brief. It has been a major renovation transforming a tired hotel into a new destination family style venue that includes:
-complete branding with extensive signage to the building throughout
-carpark and landscaping refurbishment to the surrounding site
-bistro, lounge, TAB / public bar / gaming / central main bar which services both lounge, gaming and public bar for ultimate efficiency
-extensive new courtyards surrounding the building in 7 areas, including an external entertainment area, BBQ area, a function area and bar
-state of the art kitchen/ loading area and coolrooms
-3 separate amenities for each area
-bottleshop refurbishment
-separate function room with bar and courtyard
-21 room motel accommodation rooms, as a complete motel expansion and upgrade.
The hotel is designed to be open but with a casual luxury in lounge and bistro areas whilst finishes are focused on being contemporary but natural. In all the courtyards, extensive use of red ironbark and recycled timber are used as a feature delivering natural warmth.
The ceiling treatment to the main courtyard is acoustic ply to continue the timber theme and provide a comfortable outdoor ‘room’ and entertainment area. There is use of stone walling to integrate a ‘landscaped’ courtyard effect both externally and internally, with integrated double sided fireplaces for intimacy in the lounge areas. Recycled common bricks are used as a feature wall internally (supplied by Brick Pit).
”The theme was modern industrial to establish an effect that gives a warmth through the re-use of materials,” explained Julia Hopcraft, Bergstrom’s designer for the Mill. “You could say the effect is modern rustic.
”For Bergstrom Architects, efficient planning creating user friendly and practical spaces is always at the top of our consideration when designing a venue.”
In this design great care was taken to create a natural flow of areas while retaining separation when required. Even with the significant size of the main areas a single bar operation was achieved whilst additional bars, such as the outdoor bar and function bar, are utilized only in the peak periods.
There is a strong connection in this pub with the many varied outdoor spaces. All weather seating has been designed into the many courtyards that feed of the different areas. Climate control and complying smoking solution were considered in each outdoor space.
All client groups were considered in the design. The public bar crowd has its own character and space as well as outdoor smoking solutions. The families and kids have been considered in the design of the bistro and its associated kids play areas. While the young and funky at heart can party all night in front of the giant outdoor screen and stage. Function room/conference facilities and on site accommodation was also incorporated into the design.
Being in an industrial area the aim of this pub was to become and destination venue and so to achieve this, a multi use facility had to be designed.
“By the sheer size of the proposition we needed to develop and strong character for the venue that would be warm and in context with its surrounding and its patrons,” remarked Julia. “A modern rustic approach was chosen which offered an opportunity to contrast the sleek modern elements with the warmth and tactile nature of brick, stone and timber. The overall palette is subtle and natural with splashed of contrasting colour adding drama.”
Feature lighting is a focal design aspect in the overall venue design. Each piece has been chosen specifically to either reflect an architectural element in the overall design or to create a specific emotional response. The entry pendants (Red ’Glow Square’ pendant from Lighting Partners Australia) are bold geometric pendants in red signaling the arrival point. The main lounge bar- needed a light that had a big presence hence the custom designed pleated drum (King Shade from Mance Design) was selected with a custom pattern imprinted on the fabric to match the pattern of the also custom designed carpet. The linear nature of the timber ceiling features in the bistro is contrasted by the slick metallic drop pendants (Gamma Illumination) suspended at varied heights. The Public Bar is paired down and masculine, with metallic low profile pendants.
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