CHARTER HALL
Thanks to Cox Architecture and property investor Charter Hall, the site of one of Melbourne’s most important collections of Neo-gothic architecture is getting a modern makeover, turning the precinct into a contemporary work-life destination that respects and celebrates the site’s heritage.
Cox Architecture and Charter Hall have recently embarked on a massive project to transform the Wesley Place precinct into a major work-life destination that respects and celebrates the site’s heritage.
The team is developing three commercial workspaces (130, 140 and 150 Lonsdale) alongside the restoration and adaptive reuse of a number of heritage buildings.
Other features will include a world-class culinary precinct, community amenities and green space.
Restoration of the site’s heritage buildings is a major part of the project. Buildings to be restored on the 1.1-hectare site include the Wesley Church, Caretaker’s Cottage, Manse, School House and Nicholas Hall.
The main focus will be on Wesley Church, one of Melbourne’s earliest and best examples of Gothic Revival architecture.
The update will include intricate stained glass window and stonework restoration, as well as a new slate roof.
“Wesley Place is one of Melbourne’s earliest settlements dating back to the 1800s. It is therefore immensely important for us to ensure any of the plans we have for the commercial office spaces seamlessly blend with the heritage buildings on site,” says Simon Stockfield, Charter Hall’s regional development director.
Cox Architecture has taken up this immense challenge with rigour.
Beyond the restoration works, the architects intend to address functionality by exploring new ways the community could better utilise the buildings, ensuring their historic value is appreciated by all.
Design-wise, the architects have carefully considered the influence the existing heritage buildings could have on their modern counterparts.
“With several heritage buildings on the ground plane providing a rich sense of permanence and human scale, we felt that we could explore an interesting interplay between the existing buildings and the scale, texture and material quality of the new buildings,” says Cox Architecture project director Simon Haussegger.
“In holding the edges of the precinct with the new buildings and creating a monolithic podium response that acts as a backdrop to the heritage buildings, the intent is to further reinforce their visual prominence within the city.”
According to Haussegger, Wesley Church anchors the collection of heritage buildings on the site, with the Caretaker’s Cottage and red brick wall along the north edge of the site. A new town square will sit in the northern core of the precinct, with the heritage-listed olive tree and elm tree providing protection to the landscape below.
A key design element will be the incorporation of heritage building The Manse with 130 Lonsdale. The Manse will be nestled under 130 Lonsdale, interfacing directly with the new tower’s lobby.
“The tower form above has been sculpted to reveal and provide breathing space to The Manse, with clear glazing providing a seamless interface between old and new. It will also ensure that tenants and visitors of the building will be able to view The Manse from striking new angles,” says Haussegger.
“The choice of materiality continues to be informed by the heritage buildings through the use of a subtle blue/grey glass façade on the exterior of 130 Lonsdale to complement the bluestone used in the heritage buildings. The bronze fins of the podium levels interpret the lighter sandstone elements of the heritage fabric and serve as a monolithic backdrop for the heritage buildings.”
With the first stage scheduled to open in
May 2020, the team is currently focused on the seismic reinforcement of several of the buildings, such as the Caretaker’s Cottage and The Manse. Significant restoration and external conservation of the façades is also underway, including stonework.
In the coming months, the teams at Lovell Chen, Lendlease and Heritage Victoria will also be working across the restoration of the stained glass windows at Wesley Church, as well as the replacement of the slate roof with imported specific slate from Wales to perfectly match the existing materials.