Black Swan | Preston Lane

The Black Swan is a heritage-listed building located on a prominent corner at the edge of the city, addressing a busy urban intersection. Originally constructed as a hotel, the building was destroyed by fire in 1835 and subsequently altered many times, resulting in the loss of original fabric and clarity. Prior to intervention, the building was in a near-derelict condition, with severe internal deterioration including missing floors, removed ceilings and windows, and incomplete circulation.

The project is underpinned by a philosophy of careful regeneration, prioritising repair, revelation and restraint. Rather than reconstructing a singular historical moment, the design embraces the layered history of the building, clearly distinguishing between old and new while allowing the original Georgian structure to re-emerge as the primary architectural presence. A series of modest, precise interventions stabilise the building, reinstate its legibility, increase its commercial viability to support contemporary use.