By himmelzimmer
A Grocon invitation initiated the design of this multi-level residential tower on the key urban site of the former Carlton United Brewery. Located at the top end of Swanston Street, this site is set to become a unique project in Melbourne’s urban scheme, as the terminator of the Axis to the Shrine of Remembrance.
Retaining and refurbishing the historical bluestone walls of the former Ale Store on Bouverie Street, the project, named “B” will offer 218 residential units over 20 floors, 3 boutique retail outlets and a green roof dedicated to residents.
Each apartment that faces west sits behind a cascading waterfall inspired facade, made up of coloured aluminium fins, which offer shade and a refuge from the hot afternoon sun. A bright and playful selection of colours and patterns animate the eastern side of the building, giving each apartment it’s own identity.
himmelzimmer is an architectural design practice in Melbourne dedicated to investigating an architecture that evolves from a continuous dialogue of imaginative and practical thinking.
As a studio we need to be able to define what building/design we aspire to the most:
For us this is ‘a room in the sky’, a ‘himmelzimmer’.
From its open window we can see the endless sky encouraging us that our ideas should be dream-like without boundaries. With its window closed we can focus on the work on our desk in front of us, the technical delivery of our ideas.
All our designs evolve from the dialogue of these two perspectives which are both essential in the delivery of well-executed buildings that inspire and transcend the ordinary.
Our work is at its most successful where our window to the world is in a constant state of in-between, where it is simultaneously closed and open.
We started in 2003 as studio505.
Following studio505’s closure in 2016 we are continuing our work as himmelzimmer