The combination of heritage and contemporary materiality, with contextually-driven architectural detail, ensures an appropriate design response for the heart of Cremorne and one that will embed itself into the rich industrial ancestry.
Surrounded by existing industrial warehouses and residential dwellings, DKO’s design for a contemporary office building in Cremorne was largely informed by the surrounding context. With brick and concrete the predominant materiality of Cremorne, DKO proposes a solid ground and level one podium in the same materials to anchor the architecture to place and pay respects to the heritage of the site. Above this sits a lighter steel-framed angular shroud informed by the structure of the nearby Swan Street Bridge. A setback shadow line intersects the two buildings opening onto a covered terrace for inhabitants to take a break or conduct informal meetings amongst the sounds of the city. Each of the seven levels of floor space enjoys extensive natural light via north-facing glazing, with integrated light shelves pushing light deep into the floor plates. A central core ensures each tenancy has the flexibility of hosting whole floor occupants or being divided into multiple workspaces.
The glass shroud folds across the façade in response to numerous setbacks, including a residential property to the south. An existing heritage laneway informed positioning of the entry and atrium continuing the area’s rich history of small grain porosity and thoroughfares and serving to break up the architectural massing. A food and beverage offering to the corner of Dover and Fitzgibbon Streets is bound by an internal landscaped laneway, activating the street level and creating a civic presence, while providing additional casual meeting space for the tenants above.
YEAR
2021
STATUS
Planning
CLIENT
little Projects
LOCATION
Cremorne, AUS
NLA
7,800m² commercial
310m² retail/gym
DISCIPLINE
Commercial
EXPERTISE
Architecture
Photographer: Visualisation by CUUB
DKO is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning design practice centred on creating ingenious spaces that are driven by the needs of the user, site opportunities and the dynamic process of translating design intent into built outcomes. Founded in 2000 by Principal Koos de Keijzer, its operations have expanded from Melbourne to studios in Sydney, Perth, Auckland, Ho Chi Minh City, and Brisbane. DKO has remained committed to the same underlying principles since day one. Its multiple teams spread across the Asia-Pacific region are solidly united behind the same grounded and humble approach taken to each project, big or small.
Keeping minds open to any possibility, DKO always focuses on finding the best idea, regardless of where it came from. By encouraging the personal growth of each individual within the organisation, DKO plans to become a globally oriented entity, consistently forging ahead in both business and creative objectives. DKO embraces the role of architecture in shaping a more sustainable future. As a practice, it never loses sight of the most fundamental quality that connects all great design – people. Through human understanding and nurture, DKO seeks to continually maximise its potential and deliver architecture at its utmost excellence.