Australian Capital Territory
This is the third stage of Molonglo’s Dairy Road—a 14-hectare industrial site located 8km from the centre of Canberra with highly interwoven uses, including artist studios, retail, light industrial, commercial, creative, residential, and cultural spaces.
Designed in collaboration with Molonglo, this stage is home to a number of creative tenants with a focus on women-led operators including a co-working space, gallery, theatre, two yoga studios, and a ramen restaurant. It is a productive and public place. The adaptive re-use forms the catalyst for a future residential and live/work studio development.
Based on early community consultation, the project evolved as a holistic, sensory precinct based around two internal social hubs or squares.
This project is a triumph of social sustainability, creating an authentic and inclusive community that will anchor the spirit of the future surrounding development. It has brought a critical mass of social energy and an irresistible neighbourhood buzz.
This latest instalment within the popular Dairy Road precinct, includes an art gallery, co-workspace, yoga studio and restaurants within a 60 x 50m indoor “city block”. The project demonstrates ethical development values with its. rich sequence of laneways, squares and active edges form an indoor “public domain”, drawing people into the original industrial shed.
The overall experience is somewhere between a pop-up village and an inhabitable warehouse, a compelling and disrupting alternative to the traditional shopping experience.
By utilising the existing large nondescript storage sheds on site, affordable studios have been created through an adaptive reuse approach.
Craig Tan Architects have brought intimacy to these warehouses through the addition of narrow laneways that extend inwards from the exterior of the building, meeting in a series of central squares to help foster a sense of community.
Through our collaboration of architectural place-making and collecting a unique and varied set of tenants, Dairy Rd has seen a transformation from an underutilised site to a socially sustainable vibrant public place.
Craig Tan, Director
Diem Le, Student of Architecture
Stephanie Bott, Graduate of Architecture
Tessa Williamson, Project Architect
AECOM, Services Engineer
Jane Irwin Landscape Architects, Landscape Architects
Molonglo, Developer
Oculus, Landscape Architects
Plumb Design, Hydraulic Consultant
Rossarden Design, Civil Consultant
WSP, Structural Engineer
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
