The Princess Precinct

Commercial Heritage Terrace Restoration

The ‘Princess Precinct’ is a rare surviving example of terrace houses constructed in the 1860s in one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs. The building is listed as local heritage with the Brisbane City Council, which provided a significant design challenge on top of the client’s brief. 

Petrie Terrace itself is a major road in the suburb, so turning the residences into contemporary commercial tenancies seemed logical. All layers of the building had been peeled back to its original condition and a structurally glazed façade was added instead. Together with lifestyle graphics this minimalist façade provides privacy to the inside during the day, but offers exposure in the evening when the lights are turned on. 

The design joins all front yards to one communal space and includes benches and tables to encourage social interaction of the tenants and the local community which has resulted in cross-pollination between all tenants including a gallery and the existing café next door

Client Testimonial

"Having owned these heritage-listed terrace houses for a long time, I have wanted to renovate them ever since. After receiving unsatisfactory ideas from other architects I commissioned REFRESH*, who came up with a very creative solution for converting the dilapidated residences into offices. Additionally, they provided a fantastic scheme for the next stage, which allows for three (3) additional 4 level freehold townhouses facing the rear lane. With a heritage restriction and a very tight site, I was amazed how creatively they fit everything within the envelope. Clever design and project management skills were very influential for achieving a development approval with the fantastic yield on this complicated site. Completing these offices in stage one of the project, Corinne and Erhard were always there to guide me through the elaborate process. They successfully managed heritage restrictions and fire safety requirements, often through unconventional performance solutions. I can strongly recommend the REFRESH* team and continue to engage them on the other projects I am currently working on."

Location
Petrie Terrace, Brisbane

Timeline
2017 - 2018

Photography: Cathy Schusler