Started as a private practice by William Hames in 1971 and later joined by David Sharley in 1972, Hames Sharley is an Australia based Architecture, Urban and Interior Design Organisation on a principle that “Design should be Timeless”. First started in Adelaide, Hames Sharley has expanded to have studios all over Australia with Local and International collaboration partners like UN Studio, Foster + Partners, Silver Thomas Hanley, and Cox Architecture.
The multi-disciplinary practice believes in working with an amalgamation of certain Design Values to Imagine, Innovate, Interpret, Involve and Invest which has led to work in about ten building sectors like Office and Industrial, Residential, Retail and Town Centres, Workplace, Sport and Recreation, Education Science and Research, Public and Culture, Health, Urban Planning, and Defence
Let’s have a brief look at some of the Hames Sharley projects from each sector.
1. Aurecon Workplace Darwin, Darwin, Northern Territory | Hames Sharley
Category: Workplace
Features: 64 workstations in a 500m² floor plate with collaborative areas, multi-purpose meeting rooms, client rooms, and quiet spaces.
Project Highlights: Representation of Natural Environment, Flexible Audio Visual and Technology systems, Maintaining Workplace Ecology, Contemporary Office space
This Collaborative Multifunctional space is designed with the core concept and primary client brief of Establishing and Maintaining ‘Workplace Ecology’ in the office with additions of Environment-friendly technologies, and spots of nature and planters to give the users a Welcoming, Calm and Comfortable Workplace. The Open plan design consists of 64 workstations, Integrated Central hub areas with Collaboration and Break out rooms, Multipurpose rooms, Kitchen and utility areas. Overall, the Aurecon workplace is a fine representation of the local and Natural Environment of Berrimah in the North Territory.
2. Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (North), Nedlands, Western Australia
Category: Education Science and Research
Features: 10-story Research Institute
Project Highlights: Collaborative and Interactive Model for Research, Maximising Comfort and Flexibility6
Hames Sharley designed a Collaborative and Interactive model for the Harry Perkins Research Institute for the joint use of Science and Technology. Keeping the Floor plan and floor plates generic in planning and function, an easy and standard Institute and Workplace is created avoiding segregated and personal areas for specific user groups and Open and Interactive Labs with excellent lighting. Each lab floor accommodates 100 researchers in lab space, dry space with interaction areas located centrally. This Research-oriented project is a highly Organised arrangement for strong Vertical interactions and visual connections between floors which maximized the collaboration and flexibility amongst the researchers.
3. Westgate, Subiaco, Western Australia
Category: Office and Industrial
Features: 10,605m² commercial office building
Project Highlights: Dual-road Frontage, Contrasting Facades, Strong Street Connection, Material-Form Juxtaposition, Climatic Response
Previously occupied by Four derelict inner warehouses and a long-abandoned corner deli, Westgate is now a four-storey mixed-use commercial building located on a foremost corner of Railway and Bagot Road in the inner-city suburb of Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia. The dual nature of the façade on two sides where the Railway façade is a light curtain wall and the Bagot façade is heavier and more solid makes a prominent Material and Form Juxtaposition to this Revitalization project. The facades are designed in such a way that a strong Transparency and Street connection can be maintained while responding to the Climate by maximizing natural light penetration.
4. Cygnet Court Residence, Glenelg North, South Australia
Category: Residential
Features: 700 m² Family Residence
Project Highlights: Physical and Metaphoric Connection to River, House of Relationship and Contrast, Intimate and Involving Spaces
“A Grand Gesture that can entertain Hundreds for a comfortably scaled back nurtured home for a family of Four” – As described by the company, the ‘Residence’ rather than a Home or a house is situated on a site which connects Patawalonga, a river and marina to the sea. The Cygnet Court Residence has a strong physical as well as a metaphorical relationship to the river with Views, Weather, and Building substrate. Establishments of Prime contrasts of Sea and River, Winter and Summer, Gully Breezes and Sea Breezes, and Sustainable steps like Solar Panels, Natural daylight, and Water collection make this creation A Grand Gesture.
5. Broadway Level 2; Food and Fashion Fusion precinct, Sydney, New South Wales | Hames Sharley
Category: Retail and Town Centres
Features: Regional center with Coles and Aldi supermarkets, K-mart and Target, Hoyts Cineplex, and leisure precinct.
Project Highlights: Urban language and Interiors, Fusion of Food and Fashion, Traditional Ideas into modern concepts
The precinct design for an Urban Design Philosophy as a concept of an ‘Urban Room’ with a Meeting place celebrating the city life for city dwellers is a Modern hub with an amalgamation of Food and Fashion. Located in the markets of Glebe, the place is designed with Traditional Ideas of a Food court inculcated through Quick service restaurants, slower food experiences, and fashion specialties. The highly Interactive reconciliation of dining and shopping activities with zones like: ‘Eat Street Laneway’, ‘Urban Room’, and ‘Fashion Street’ let Food and Fashion enthusiasts Shop, Rest, Commute, Promenade, Observe and Dine along with the touch of differentiated Interior characters.
6. Scarborough Beach Services & Surf Club, Scarborough Beach, Western Australia
Category: Sport and Recreation
Features: Beach Services and Surf Club
Project Highlights: Reflections of Scarborough’s identity and Australian Surf Culture, ‘Sand and Sea’ concept, Loud Architectural expressions, Sustainable Initiatives and measures
The Scarborough Beach Services and Surf Club is designed to express Australia’s Surf Culture and Scarborough’s Coastal Identity. With the concept of ‘Sand and Sea’ used in the upper levels where the functional services are enclosed in a ‘Solid’ box representing ‘Sand’ and the Concrete fins used as a strong Architectural expression as well as to enable lines of the site from the Entry – described as ‘Transparency’ of the ‘Sea’. This upper level comprises Hospitality and Management areas while the Concrete and Timber cladding Lower level includes all the Operational areas creating a sense of tranquillity. Sustainable measures like Solar Panels, Greywater reuse, meter monitoring are taken for maintaining the Environmental ecology with fully opening windows and minimizing direct sunlight.
7. Whyalla Regional Cancer Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
Category: Health
Features: Facilities for operating theatres, treatment services, education, and preventative care
Project Highlights: Primary idea of Patient disconnect with a chance to remove themselves from the clinical environment, Healing Ambience and Environment, Durability of Materials, Form, and Texture, Sustainable measures to meet 5-star green rating
Taking the core requirement from the client brief which is opportunities for patients to get out of the clinical environment and capture the views, take some sunlight, have a break, and go outside, the Whyalla Regional Cancer Centre is designed with spaces to Think, Reflect, Relax and Heal. This ‘Model of Care’ is an outcome of Durable Materials, Forms, and Textures, Local Aboriginal based art, and healing installations along with Spaces that allows Natural light and External environment as well as limits the same. The center is designed to meet 5-star green rating via the formal self-assessment mechanism.
8. Swan Bells Tower, Perth, Western Australia
Category: Public and Culture
Features: World’s largest musical instrument
Project Highlights: Historical Association, Material and Form Juxtaposition, Contrasting Concepts, Response to Public Connection
The Swan Bells Tower is described as the world’s largest musical instrument because of its 12 bells originated in the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields and 6 newly cast bells together making a ring of 18 bells. Considering Public consultation and requirements the Bells Tower is designed to acknowledge the past and bring confidence and hope for the future. With the strong historic association with the Barrack Square, the Bells are inspired by the Evocative of Boats and Sailing. Whereas the 82.5m high tower is created in such a way that it is lost in the city. Giving the Bells a Historic and Solid language and the Tower a Modern, Lightweight and technological advance look, Hames Sharley has expressed a strong Juxtaposition with Rigid concrete frame covered with copper cladding for the Bells and Glass and steel finishes to the Tower to appreciate the State of Building technology in Australia.
9. Port Geographe Urban Design Review & Marine Village Concept, Busselton, Western Australia
Category: Urban Development
Features: Site responsive concept options, Integrated planning
Project Highlights: Strong relationships between Village center, its environment and the neighborhood, desirable tourist destination
The Port Geographe is a Marine Village Concept for Village Centre and Marina. The concept takes care of the primary requirement of establishing strong relationships of the Village Centre with its environment and surrounding neighborhood. The Village center consists of Public Foreshore paths and a Safe swimming area designed to be a tourist destination. Hence, the focus of the project is to maximize the economic potential by offering a diverse range of Dwellings which can go up to 6 storeys.
10. Raaf Base Edinburgh, Edinburgh, South Australia | Hames Sharley
Category: Defence
Features: Base Infrastructure Upgrade
Project Highlights: Major Redevelopment of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct (EDP)
The scope of the project includes enhancement of passive defense, new 87 Squadron and 462 Squadron facilities, redesign of explosive ordnance loading areas, new air traffic control tower, new and upgraded 24 Squadron facilities, expanded 92 Wing Aircrew (10 and 11 Squadron) facilities. RAAF Base Edinburgh is a Redevelopment of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct (EDP). The new facilities in the 87 Squadron will be Accommodation in a secure environment, Offices, and Work area appropriate to the area security. Similar to that, the facilities for the 462 Squadron will add the laboratory facilities.
11. SEW Eurodrive Office and Warehouse, Welshpool, Western Australia | Hames Sharley
Category: Office and Industrial
Features: 500m² single volume warehouse with mezzanine and offices
Project Highlights: Visual Landmarks, Unique Façade, Play of Light and shadows by Sun shading fins, Overlapping combination of materials
The project was designed to represent the company’s strong growth and as an outcome, Visual Landmarks, Contrasting Colour choices, Unique and Ephemeral Façade allows this Industrial block to break the surrounding banality. The combination of materials let the playful daylight inside the building through tapering concrete frames. And the lighting in the night allows the building to proudly present itself.
12. Australians at Rossmoyne, Rossmoyne, Western Australia
Category: Residential
Features: Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Design, Master Planning of Residential Apartments
Project Highlights: Seamless Integrational spaces, Connection to the outside community, maximum views to the city
By opening up the internal spaces the Australians at Rossmoyne provide the residents with a strong connection to the Outside community in the village and the surrounding neighborhood. With just one entry point and maximum views to the city, the residents can enjoy the Communal base on the ground floor with well-designed circulation spaces that have access to natural daylight and ventilation.
13. Enex 100, Perth, Western Australia
Category: Retail and Town Centres
Features: Mixed-use development commercial center
Project Highlights: Increasing Market opportunities, Customer convenient pedestrians, high profile retail and commercial city hub
Enex 100, a high-profile retail attraction brings a new level of style to the city with a mixture of fashion, food, and entertainment. Extensive Research by Hames Sharley led the design to translate market opportunities into a stimulating built form. This 24-story commercial building comprises Three levels of Retail and Pedestrian for customer convenience providing a link between the Retail and Commercial Precincts.
14. Perks Group Relocation, Parkside, South Australia
Category: Workplace
Features: 120 staff-workplace for the multi-disciplinary company, Perks
Project Highlights: Individually themed spaces, Interoffice communication, Use of natural timbers, planting, small booths and couches
The Workplace for Perks was designed from the primary concept of ‘home away from home’ giving the users a relaxed yet interactive and playful environment that reflects the company’s multi-disciplinary approaches. With Individually themed spaces and multiple space experiences, the design allows the employees to increase productivity being in a calm and comfortable environment. Breakout spaces made from bamboo and Industrial plastic screens
Provides privacy along with Natural timbers, planting, small booths, and couches add up to the vibrancy and the Working spirit. A Special feature of ‘Hall of Fame’ reminds and inspires the employees of the strong company history.
15. Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre, Darwin, Northern Territory | Hames Sharley
Category: Sport and Recreation
Features: Learning and Leadership Centre for Footballers along with Gym, lap and rehabilitation pools, medical facilities, meeting rooms, dormitory-style accommodation.
Project Highlights:Conceptual Representation of ‘Taking flight’
The Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre was designed for the students to educate and lift them in the right direction in life – and hence forming a design concept of ‘taking flight’ which was developed by Cultural Influences and references. This Training and Fitness facility allows the students to connect with space through its Colours, Textures, and Images framed. For example, in the reception zone, each color panel represents one of the 9 communities that will be using the space. In the cafeteria, handwoven pendant lights by local artists hang and the bench seating is upholstered in a fabric known as the ‘gathering’ pattern, also designed by an indigenous artist.
Hames Sharley has grown to be one of Australia’s leading organizations with its wide range of work starting from Architecture, Planning, Urban Designing, and Interior Designing. The three-decade-old Company continues to make its mark in the Australian Architecture and Design work.
Bibliography:
Core Reference for all the Information and Images (except Image 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5):
Hames Sharley: Architecture, Urban & Interior Design Australia. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.hamessharley.com.au/
Information credits for Project 1:
Westgate Subiaco. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://www.blackburne.com.au/developments/westgate-subiaco/
Image credits – Image 1.1, 1.2, 1.3:
Westgate Subiaco. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://www.blackburne.com.au/developments/westgate-subiaco/
Image credits – Image 1.4:
Westgate, #industrialofficewalldecor #Westgate in 2020: Precast concrete, Westgate, Industrial office. (2020, February 20). Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/753649318880169653/?nic_v1=1aB58LH8PZ9BFmP5IWsav+Wl2hRK8A4kbOoDpHvJnUtoe8uvSwB5u1JPjQ4MY62Nun
Image credits – Image 1.5:
Westgate Commercial, 420 Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA 6008. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://www.realcommercial.com.au/sold/property-westgate-commercial-420-bagot-road-subiaco-wa-6008-500525835
