A stack of 17 oversize concrete pipes makes up the façade of this extension to a Melbourne pub and hotel by Techné Architects. Contrasting with an original art deco front, the modern addition not only makes a unique façade, but creates defined booths for diners on the inside. The huge glazed windows set into the pipes allow views in and out, providing interaction between building and public realm.
Conscious of the façade not becoming a novelty of the pub, the refurbished spaces around the rest of the 750-sq-m space, also hold their own with interesting designs and details. A glazed courtyard connects both levels and allows natural light into the spaces. A five-metre long bar made from recycled coloured steel pipes runs down one side of the courtyard, and the space is filled with collapsible tables that make way for a dance floor. A five-metre Jacaranda tree is the central feature of the outdoor space; the tree and complementary planting help to baffle noise from the pub within the local neighbourhood. Inside, gantries and walkways become a way of connecting several smaller, more intimate spaces.
Photos by Peter Clarke.
