This adaptive reuse of a former warehouse has maintained the exterior almost untouched, with only a few new windows inserted into existing openings. This soft touch has been extended to the interior, where original brick walls have been exposed and the large timber roof trusses highlighted as the starting point for the conversion to a family home.
Project Name: Redfern Warehouse
Architect Name: Ian Moore Architects
The brief called for a 4 bedroom home, with self contained guest accommodation, a home office, to be used as an equine genetics laboratory and a large garage space to store a collection of classic sports cars. There was a strong emphasis on maintaining an industrial feel to the conversion and the owners asked that there be no timber, marble or black finishes used in the renovation.
The upper level is divided on strict alignment with the existing trusses with the bottom chord of the trusses used as a horizontal datum, with all solid walls stopping at this level and clear glazing installed above to enclose the cellular spaces, while allowing visual continuity of the trusses and ceiling throughout the space.
A very large, hot/cold and noisy space has been transformed into a comfortable family home by locating all household spaces on the upper level, effectively a single storey house, while ancillary spaces are on the lower level.
Large outdoor recreation spaces flow off the main living area, allowing natural light and ventilation, as well as views to the sky and new landscaping, where even the family dog gets real grass on the terrace. Material and furniture choices provide comfort, low maintenance and colour to enliven the space.
New work is complementary but clearly distinguished from original fabric through a rigorous application of the concept of retention, recycling and reinforcing the original form and spatial qualities of the warehouse, while inserting a series of refined and elegant new elements to contrast with and compliment the original, with no sentimental or nostalgic reinvention of a warehouse aesthetic.
Ian Moore Architects
Ian Moore is the principal of Ian Moore Architects, a practice established in 1990. The practice has won numerous national and international awards and has been exhibited in Australia and around the world, including Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Singapore, Tokyo and Vicenza.The work of the practice has also been included in the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008 and 2012.
Initially studying civil and structural engineering at the Auckland Technical Institute in New Zealand, Ian then studied architecture at the University of Technology, Sydney, graduating with honours in 1988. He received a Master of Architecture degree, from RMIT University, Melbourne in 2000.
Ian has taught at Sydney University, the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the Sydney Institute of Technology. He has been a speaker and guest lecturer throughout Australia as well as New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Germany and the United Kingdom. Ian has also been a member of awards juries in Australia, New Zealand and at the World Festival of Interiors in 2013 and the World Architecture Festival in 2015. In 2003, Ian was the inaugural Creative Director for the Australian Institute of Architects annual conference.
