Architectural Attention Ballarat House would be indeed a Sustainable and Enriched Culture

This award recognises a project where every clever thing has been done to recognise culture and interpret it into the future. Ballarat House is a tall Edwardian warehouse building by the eminent practice Morrow & De Putron, long ago converted to office use and now a heritage item. It has been fully investigated, understood and made more useful by the designed inputs of Hill Thalis over two decades. The intelligence, craft and originality of the result are matched only by its subtlety.

Today, commercial office space is complex. In this project everything from its floor space offering, natural light, and fire strategies to urban address have been boosted with minimal impact. Architect and client have worked together to achieve more than compliance.  

The creation of a second urban address significantly augments the commercial viability of the building. The use of engineered fire safety solutions has left a surprisingly small list of interventions. For example, in the new foyer to Foster Street proudly stands the retained and functioning Ordinance 70 Booster Pump Set. If all buildings in our environment were given this manner of architectural attention ours would be indeed a sophisticated, sustainable and enriched culture.

Project Information

Architect: Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects  

Photography: The Guthrie Project