JOURNAL/ Feb/Mar/2014

In contrast to traditional sports stadia, the Club Stand presents itself in the round. In doing so it captures the spirit of the promenading which enhances enjoyment of a day at the races. The sweeping curvilinear forms promote this unique movement and energy.

The design acknowledges site context in which the theatre of horse racing is played out on all sides - mounting yard, track and members’ lawn to the south; parade ring and day stalls to the east; betting ring to the north; existing grandstands and winning post to the west.

The new Club Stand occupies virtually the same footprint as the Members’ Old Grandstand, but will provide increased capacity and more diverse venues and facilities in response to contemporary expectations.  For race-goers the new building will ensure an enhanced experience with improved hospitality offerings, internal circulation and amenities.  Operationally the building will provide staff and caterers with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that safe and efficient services support the member experience.

The spaces inside the building are to be imbued with a sense of history without feeling beholden to it - featuring elements of the past, but interpreted with clean and sophisticated lines in a modern style and using warm materials.The story of Flemington Racecourse and the VRC is to be woven into the fabric of the building through material, pattern, pictorial and artefact reference and displays.

The Club Stand is designed to build on the existing heritage at Flemington, and in turn to be an iconic part of the heritage of Flemington’s future.

Read the press: The Age, Racing Network, Sky Racing

Visit Bates Smart to read more about this project.

Bates Smart's design brief from the agency called for the new workplace to be a modern environment that is connected to ‘now’, the immediacy and connectivity to the data and the energy of the world.

Chris Howatson, CHE Proximity's Managing Director commented on the outcome of the project:

'The team at Bates Smart have imagined an environment that's not only functionally brilliant in how it underpins our way of working, but emotionally energises our people and improves our thinking. We truly believe our office is a competitive advantage, not just a space.’

The look and feel was to be modern and simple, creating a powerful backdrop to the energy of the agency, conveyed through technology, movement, activity and an element of agency surprise.

Bates Smart's Associate Director, Grant Filipoff, explains how the spaces work together:

'The reception, hub and bar are one space; the epicenter of activity and energy and the heart of the agency. This space is utilized for meetings, presentations, staff gatherings and client entertaining and opens up to the landscaped external terrace.

'The workplace is broken down into district neighbourhoods with a feel and identity that subtly modulates between key team zones without restricting expansion and contraction of teams.'

The new environment encourages staff collaboration between groups and modulates the workspace to represent the unique needs and identities of each department.

CHE Proximity

Images by Peter Bennetts

The project integrates new residential buildings with historic industrial building fabric with the aim of preserving the rich history of the site.

A new public laneway and a road provide improved site access and mid block links. Along Australia Street the sawtooth industrial facades of the 1920s Motor Car Works have been carefully restored and 26 terrace houses located within the pitched roof bays. The gable ends to the historic High Bay Building have been retained and party walls and roof rebuilt to accommodate terrace and loft apartments.

Contemporary apartment planning has been integrated with the historic fabric of the 1922 Fowler pottery warehouses and High Bay building. With over 190 residences, Gantry provides a wide range of housing types including one and two bedroom single storey apartments; two and three storey terraces and three bedroom upper level penthouses.

Bates Smart Director Guy Lake comments on the project:

'Creating a sense of place and diversity of accommodation was key to the success of this project. With demographics predicting that 30% of sydney households will be living in flats by 2030, multi residential development is the most important and fastest growing sector.

'It is without doubt the most difficult sector in which to deliver good architecture yet given its impact on people's lives it is arguably the most important.'

Bates Smart was responsible for the design of the marketing display suite resulting in the majority of the units selling out within days of release.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Gantry

Visit Gantry site

Images by Brett Boardman

The Belford Hotel aims to provide a new type of architecture which is calm and natural and establishes the hotel as a distinctive landmark. Warm materials are delicately crafted to evoke a sense of comfort and tranquility, reinforcing the idea of sanctuary.

The façade is beautifully crafted, enriched with fine details and texture. The natural tones of this thoughtful building will provide the perfect escape from daily life.

12-16 Belford Street was submitted town planning approval in November 2013.

Now with Bates Smart an exciting mixed use development is proposed for the site to the north of the degraded Forum Theatre, one of Melbourne’s great architectural extravaganzas.

The development will include a 220 room 4-star hotel with sky lobby, commercial office, retail and penthouse apartments.

An 8 storey podium maintains the streetscape context while the tower is articulated into two elements which step in response to the gradient of the street.

The facade concept for the new building interprets the ornate and decorative facades of the Forum Theatre, while the rectilinear massing forms a backdrop to the exuberant character and language of the heritage building.

The faceted curtain-wall facade system under development utilises modern glazing technologies to give the building subtle modelling and articulation.

Town planning approval has been applied for.

Bates Smart Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov commented on the design:

'This is a glorious heritage building, we've sought to unveil the grandeur of it's former life by highlighting some of the previously hidden original features.'

Meticulous detailing and bespoke fittings have been key to this intention and a rich composition of materials has been used to create a mood of high glamour. 

The team have designed a collection of Swarovski crystal chandeliers, mirrored columns and intricate moulded ceilings to create a luxury environment in celebration of the golden age of travel.

The process of restoring the building to its former grandeur will continue all year with the opening of a range of restaurants, bars and further gaming and entertainment areas.

The Hawthorn Road development will offer 97 beautifully appointed residences and suites, the building has been carefully designed as a composite of residential elements, gently woven into the surrounding urban fabric.

A strong sense of place has been nurtured through a bundant natural light, panoramic views, landscaped open spaces and gardens featuring mature trees. While a series of internal courtyards allow natural light to penetrate deep into the plan.

The residents of Emmy Monash Aged Care will access to a wide range of amenties including a beauty salon, physiotherapy space, library and Synagogue.

The Hawthorn Road development is due to start on site mid 2014 for completion in 2015.

Emmy Monash Aged Care

The ‘black carpet’ event was held in the stunning crystalline foyer. Forty tonnes of low iron glass is cantilevered off three of the atrium walls, creating a veil of glass and light which in turn frames the tower, completing the fourth side of the atrium.

To celebrate the opening, the space was adorned with a 9m high chandelier. This installation was created out of silver mylar and inspired by the New York skyline after which it was named. 'The New York' was handmade by Confetti System, a creative collaboration between New York artists Julie Ho and Nicholas Anderson.

The 171 Collins Street journey to completion ended with a fitting celebration that night. To top off the evening, Charter Hall and Cbus Property were thrilled to announce that $78,500 was raised for the project charity, Youth Projects, throughout the course of the development.

Visit Bates Smart to read more about 171 Collins Street

Charter Hall

Cbus Property

The New Legal Workplace is authored by Kellie Payne, Workplace Strategist + Associate Director at Bates Smart.

Download the The New Legal Workplace to read more.

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View our latest workplace interiors projects on our website

Bates Smart is proud to sponsor these AIA Awards, Australia’s most prestigious media awards for journalists, editors, producers and others reporting on architecture and design. The awards have become an integral part of the Australian Institute of Architects annual awards programs.

For more information and closing dates:

Bates Smart Architecture in the Media Award(Victorian Chapter)

Adrian Ashton Prize for Architecture in the Media (NSW Chapter)

Pictured: Justine Clarke, winner of the Bates Smart Architecture in the Media Award 2013 for Parlour.