Tasmania
As the impacts of climate change are now felt in real time, the idea of sustainability in architecture is being questioned. TERROIR aim to challenge sustainability in Architecture through the concepts explored within their own office fit out in lutruwita / Hobart.
Occupying a space within an abandoned mid-century office fit out, the design is a cannibalisation and reappropriation of what was already there. This project is an experiment that challenges the paradox of ‘sustainable architecture’. This project may be small in size, but heralds a disproportionately large manifesto for a different sort of practice that is more and more urgent to embrace. Its lessons are already informing our practice’s larger projects in our quest to continue making places which support the interactions of people and place, but in a way that uses less resources than ever before.
The Peter Willmott Award for Small Architecture
The architects have shown both great courage and remarkable restraint in the fit-out of their own offices in a leased Council-owned heritage building, adjacent to Mawson’s Place in Hobart. What may have easily been a somewhat unforgiving outcome, after stripping out walls and doors, in fact presents as a playful, imaginative and heartening space, destined to inspire creativity.
Within a monochromatic and natural timber palette, the architects have shown inventiveness in introducing light, resolving structural and water ingress issues and creating an engaging aesthetic that arouses curiosity and stimulates conversation.
A clear a set of protocols have been developed and applied that emphasise the layering effects and narrative of uses over time, while achieving a high degree of intended functionality, while other features may have arisen purely by allowing chance to play a role in the outcome.
The architects have deliberately created a space that is able to significantly advance thinking and dialogues around sustainability. In this project they clearly define the current priorities of their practice and ‘walk the talk’ in a very pragmatic way. We hope there are many opportunities for their future clients to witness the challenging and inventive approach demonstrated by this excellent project.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
In an uncompromising experiment conducted by the architects on the fit-out of their own offices, this project exemplifies doing ‘more with less’.
The project challenges the paradox of ‘sustainable architecture’ by choosing to build virtually nothing new. Instead, they have undertaken to ‘pull back the layers’ of an unimproved 1960’s office interior located within an 1850’s heritage-listed building. In doing so, they have created a revitalised interior, bathed in natural light, full of texture, which celebrates the perfectly imperfect history of the building. Each adaptation or uncovering expresses a particular understanding of the building, while in concert testing the potential of what may constitute a contemporary workplace.
The outcome is an intelligent and engaging environment. More than a simple talking point, their approach could be viewed as a manifest demonstration to their clients and others of an ethical position in architectural practice.
The project should be considered as a reference point for adaptive reuse and sustainable thinking. The outcome reminds us again of our industry’s potential to facilitate negative environmental impact. To this end, it provides a uniquely robust, regenerative and optimistic alternative position.
In the unique position where TERROIR are both Client and Designer, we have been able to develop a robust project brief and then be involved in further refining the core ideas throughout construction. The resulting workspace is light and optimistic and full of joy, in both the aesthetic and atmospheric qualities of the space, but also in providing an embodied ethos in the design response which acts as a reminder in day-to-day operations. The physical space enhances staff wellbeing, and the ideological principles imbued within it continually inspire and inform our practice.
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.
