George Street

The project involves the renovation and adaptive re-use of an existing three story retail and office building into a two story retail building. The proposal retains the current building height as view from George street , maintaining and enhancing the relationship to the podium of the adjoin office building to the south (333 George Street)

A strong desire to reduce the carbon footprint of the build brought us to the decision to employ sustainable timber construction . We propose a hybrid timber glum laminated post and beam structural system with cross laminated floor and roof panels. This structural system is exposed throughout the interior of the building, independent of the existing north and south boundary walls creating a holistic natural timber aesthetic that is visible from George Street

Natural light is employed throughout the building design . The current third floor is removed and replaced with highlight windows that provide ambient natural light over a void which brings natural light deep into the building floor plate on both levels. A glass block wall to the rear facade illuminates and highlighting the stair access to the first floor .

The circulation pattern is direct and simple – the light void, over the circulation line from the front entry to first floor stair access , is created by the first level retail floor plate set in from front elevation and north side boundary , creating a vertical connection and a dynamic three-dimensional retail space.

The new glazed George Street facade constructed as part of the Timber construction system behind an Aluminium framed glazed section. The objective is to maximise transparency thought to the internal space with minimum obstruction . The facade system will utilize performance glazing to comply with Section J requirements to relieve the need for external shading devises.

External to the façade the glazed awning is supported on glue laminated timber beams connected to the internal construction system . A patterned film is to be deployed to the laminated glass to filter light to street level.

This project adds a dynamic, natural, light filled, low scale addition to what is becoming a vibrant retail hub in the new George Street pedestrian zone.