heritage | Dedicated to minimising energy consumption and life cycle costs through an integrated approach to architectural and engineering design

Posted on 10:25 pm | Posted by Geoff

The HUB is a conversion of a historic hotel in Castlemaine to a restaurant and 14 small rooms for commercial rental. The intention of the project is that the building act as a centre for local sustainable businesses. The aim was to have relevance culturally, environmentally, economically and socially. The building was opened in April 2010 by ex labor Federal Minister Barry Jones, who beleived it to be an example of world best practice in all four areas.

Originally built in the 1850s this charming old building has had many refurbishments, the most notable being the addition of the second story in 1905. In 2006 Heather & Neil Barrett purchased the building to give a home to the then newly formed Mount Alexander Sustainability Group. Extensive renovations have since been done to provide comfortable offices and a restaurant (The Good Table).

The aim has been to refurbish the building, maintaining as much as possible of the original fabric. Whilst respecting its heritage some contemporary architectural changes have been made to make the building more climatically comfortable and meet current safety standards. A full energy audit was conducted and the intention has been to incorporate as many sustainable features as possible within budgetary constraints.

more heritage

CASTLE house

heritage, in construction, projects, residential renovations & additions ~ 12:16 pm 0 Comments

Renovation to a Heritage-listed building “A single-storey picturesque Elizabethan house built in two stages between 1866 and 1869 by William Downe, architect and Castlemaine town surveyor till 1872 on land he acquired in 1866. The first known occupant was George Farroll, a watchmaker who owned the house between 1869 till his death in 1885. His [...]

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DUKE offices

commercial, completed, heritage ~ 3:16 pm 0 Comments

8 storey office tower behind a heritage-listed facade. The site for this building includes the Duke of Wellington Hotel built in 1850. Having continuously operated as a pub since 1853 this is the oldest licensed hotel in Melbourne. The new building sits behind the existing building in what would have been the service yard. A separate entry [...]

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RIVER NILE learning centre

education and community, heritage, in construction ~ 12:02 pm 0 Comments

Heritage Refurbishment Master planning and refurbishment of a series of Church buildings to better serve the local community. The bluestone church was first erected in the original Footscray City centre, at the corner of Cowper and Bunbury Streets. In 1888 it was moved, legend has it piece by piece in a wheelbarrow, to it’s current [...]

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BALLARAT ST studio apartment

completed, conversions & refurbishments, heritage, projects ~ 2:48 pm 0 Comments

Conversion of part of a market to a studio/residence Commissioned by a young photographic artist, this studio was fashioned out of the lofty roof space of the old Brunswick food market. A living/dining area forms the core, with a small kitchen to one side, from which a ladder ascends to a study. A darkroom and [...]

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