Nowadays, it is not surprising to see architecture firms brand themselves as multi-disciplinary design practices. These architectural practices work across disciplines and scales intending to provide various design solutions under one roof. One such example is Fratelle Group, a full-service multi-disciplinary design firm based in Perth, WA led by Adrian Fratelle and his wife Kylee Schoonens. The firm aims to work closely with the clients, and through their multi-faceted approach, they strive to create functional, innovative, and sustainable designs.
Fratelle Group has worked on projects ranging from multi-residential, commercial, educational, retail, hospitality, industrial, aged care, and retirement to heritage conservation projects.
Listed below are 15 of their projects of varied type and scale:
1. Guildford Hotel Redevelopment
The revival of this 135 years old building after it was destroyed by fire in 2008 is of great historic significance for the city of Perth. It was redeveloped and repurposed as a new hospitality venue with bars, restaurants, beer gardens, and function facilities. The aim was to retain the original structure and character of the building as much as possible.
2. Waterfront Heritage Restaurant and Bar
The project involved converting a heritage warehouse into a waterfront hospitality venue. It functioned as a bar, bistro, and alfresco with the flexibility to use the space for events and functions. To preserve the character of the space, the objective was to retain all the key features of the building including the roof, structure, envelope, windows, doors, and cladding.
3. Kings Park Link Bridge
Fratelle Group jointly worked with BEaM and AECOM for the design of the bridge that acts as a pedestrian link between the Perth Children’s Hospital and King’s Park. The aesthetics behind the fluid geometry and the rainbow colors of the bridge, signify unity and hope for the children, according to their vision. It now acts as a recreational space for children, hospital staff, patients, and visitors.
4. Midland Auctioneer’s Heritage Office
Another of the firm’s restoration projects was converting a heritage warehouse into an office space for Smith Broughton Auctioneers. Due to the derelict condition of the building, some parts had to be repaired and replaced, for it to be safe and functional. A significant amount of work had to be done to the main roof structure as it had sagged over the years. A lot of artifacts owned by the clients like auctioneer’s gavels, petrol browser, etc., are displayed in the restored building.
5. Rossiter Pavilion
Rossiter Pavilion won the National Building Design Award for ‘Best Public Building Design’ in 2018. They were approached by the City of Armadale to develop a pavilion for the area of Piara Oval South that provides the community with facilities like playing fields, playgrounds, and other sports facilities.
6. Money Street Apartments
A mixed-use 6-story residential apartment with an approach of sustainability and modular offsite construction; the building incorporates a rooftop terrace with edible gardens and BBQ facilities. It also has an electric vehicle sharing system for the residents and locals to help them reduce their carbon footprints.
7. Forrestfield Forum Shopping Centre Upgrade
The project was to upgrade the shopping center and create a community space to link the two buildings. This underutilized area was completely transformed into a green and playful space with amenities like a playground, street furniture, and bike racks hence encouraging people to spend more time there.
8. Duty-Free Perth International Airport
Unlike their other projects, this was for the fit-out of the Duty-Free retail area of Perth International Airport. It was challenging to complete the project in a short timeframe, along with the requirement of incorporating the standard guidelines of the displayed brands and coordinating with overseas clients and vendors.
9. Brickworks Design Studio
The brief was to create a unique and tailored retail showroom for Austral Bricks in a heritage-listed building. It is interesting to see how drawers and tables have been thoughtfully made to display the products and create an interactive experience for the customers. The custom-made brick jaali wall with integrated audio-visual components, act as a dramatic feature wall for the interior space.
10. King Street Jewellers
The project was to convert an existing heritage-listed building into a high-end jewelry store. It was challenging to work with the client’s specific security requirements and the council’s restrictions on the number of alterations that were permitted.
11. Temporary Community
It is a group camping and retreat center project that aims to provide a recreational space for people from all groups, ages, and levels of accessibility. The purpose was to create an inclusive and friendly environment for the community by providing various facilities like an amphitheater, swimming lake, training rooms, gymnasium, conference rooms, multipurpose auditorium, accommodation facilities, and outdoor sports activities.
12. Ecohabit Modular House
Ecohabit, a division of Fratelle Group, was established to make affordable, sustainable, and energy-efficient homes in Western Australia. One such example is the Ecohabit Modular House, which is a two-story house that was prefabricated and assembled in 6 months.
13. Karragullen Residence
The house is essentially divided into two pods, which are linked by an entry walkway. The design and orientation of the building make good use of the southern view, winter sun, and summer cross ventilation. Along with the rammed earth walls, it also incorporates a rainwater system, Biolytix wastewater treatment system, and heat pump system to make it a self-sufficient home.
14. Dinninup ‘Hexagon’ House
The initial brief was to design a hexagonal shaped house for a retired couple that is comfortable and brightly lit. To incorporate a central courtyard that connects with the interior space, a semi-closed hexagon house was proposed. The unique and angular roof form is well insulated and helps in harvesting water.
15. Fremantle Residence
The project was to make an extension to an already existing 1800’s heritage worker’s cottage. The extension consisted of an open kitchen, dining, and living area on the ground floor with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the first floor. The existing limestone structure sits beautifully with the new addition that was constructed entirely from renewable timber.
