Western Australia
This project at Victoria House involves significant Restoration, Alteration and Addition to a State Heritage asset designed by AE Clare in order to adapt it into a true mixeduse development with a long future ahead.
Originally constructed in 1938, Victoria House carries the heritage legacy for the Shenton Park Rehabilitation Hospital site and has been designed as the centrepiece of the Montario Quarter redevelopment. The retention of Victoria House enables the public to engage with the building with modern adaptations providing for hospitality and health uses.
Careful study of the materiality of Victoria House directed the Project team to develop a material palette for the new buildings that was sympathetic and a built form which is referential so that they can exist comfortably in polite conversation.
Victoria House is a clear example of the benefit of collaborators and clients working with shared vision, principles and passion towards an exemplary outcome.
Victoria House is underpinned by a conceptually bold design strategy that masterfully engages with the original scissor plan of the State heritage listed former Infectious Diseases Hospital.
It succeeds in being respectful of the heritage building while offering confident geometric forms that establish a clear dialogue between past, present and future. The cleverly planned landscape conceals a basement carpark allowing a generous public interface, retaining mature trees and providing connection to a variety of landscape spaces on all sides.
Throughout there is a focus on pedestrian movement and social connection via the publicly accessible food and beverage and commercial spaces on the ground level, multiple shared garden spaces, intimate courtyards and open-air access galleries.
Robust face brickwork is elevated by excellent formal and detail resolution that gives delight across all scales, bringing together distinct architectural histories.
Spatial planning across all apartment types offers concise, legible, well-proportioned spaces, utilising the ‘scissor plan’ to achieve aspect, privacy and cross ventilation. The team are congratulated on a fruitful collaboration resulting in a project that succeeds in delivering sustainable, liveable and desirable dwellings, while also enhancing neighbourhood amenity in an emerging precinct.
Paediatric health service provider Western Kids Health is the largest commercial tenant at Victoria House. Founder and Managing Director, Nicole Pates, explains what stood out to her:
The space. There is room to move. Kids need room to move and Victoria House allows us to utilise the space and high ceilings to provide dedicated areas to different age groups. The high ceilings, jarrah floor boards, beautiful natural light and art deco features make it feel more like a home than a medical clinic, which is exactly what we want for our families
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.
