The refurbishment of Goods shed North, in Melbourne’s Docklands, presented an incredible opportunity to renew an integral part of the city’s history. According to Ninotschka Titchkosky, Principal of BVN Architecture who designed the interiors, the heritage –listed railways goods shed also presented a very special challenge.

“It was the authenticity of the Goods Shed that created a really unique feeling,” says Titchkosky. “One that you could never capture in an entirely new workplace building.”

Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden was an early and enthusiastic supporter  of the project.

“The refurbishment of the Goods Shed North will raise the bar in environmental design by creating an economically feasible sustainable design, incorporating state-of-the-art office accommodation in an historic building,” he said.

One of the few heritage buildings left in Docklands, the Goods Shed was originally built in 1889 at the centre of the Melbourne Goods Yards. It was derelict for over 30 years and became redundant in the 1980s, later being bisected by the Collins Street extension which created the North and South Side.

The Goods Shed North’s transformation into a vibrant workplace shows what is possible when adaptive reuse of building stock is undertaken with a  clear vision and a shared goal. The clients – VicUrban, Building Commission & Plumbing Industry Commission (BC/PIC), Equiset as the developer and the consultant team – worked in a highly collaborative manner to realize the project both from a tenant perspective and the overarching aim of setting a new benchmark for adaptive reuse projects.

While the building’s historical exteriors has been restored, the interior has been designed to be an innovative, contemporary, office space. Key historical elements of its interiors have been retained and state-of-the –art technology installed.

For people who will work there, the design fosters a collaborative work ethic through increased visibility and transparency, and the creative of both active and passive project spaces within the building’s central zones.

By locating workspaces to the east and west side wings and retaining clear lines of sight through the building’s spine, multifunctional project spaces were created centrally to ensure staff interact and connect with one another.

An important aspect of the interior architecture for both VicUrban and the Building commission was retaining the eccentricities of the Goods Shed North whilst respecting the different cultures and requirements of the tenants who will occupy the space.

Under Ninotschka Titchkosky’s leadership, BVN’s design solution has managed to satisfy all the requirements of the brief.

The Interior Design Association recently recognized BVN Architecture with two significant awards for Goods Shed North, one for Corporate Design and the other for Environmentally Sustainable Design.

According to the Awards jury, “The challenge presented by the base building was expertly addressed with an unflinching interior-focused design approach that maximized the spatial qualities through a clever breakup of planning and a mix of open, semi-open and enclosed volumes.”

Atrium voids have been used to enhance interconnection between the ground floor and mezzanine level of the workplace. Tower structures contained within these atrium spaces are used to house both formal and informal meeting and café faculties. The structures are not only a design feature but also assist with space delineation and create alternative work spaces.

The design aimed to achieve an aesthetic response that built on the existing and reinterpreted elements into a new aesthetic. The building’s high ceilings, clerestory windows, exposed trusses and brickwork cast iron heritage columns – all key historical elements – have been retained while accommodating state-of-the-art technology.

The result is the creation of Victoria’s most sustainable historic building – the first 5 Star Green Star heritage listed building in the state – and a dynamic, versatile, contemporary workplace that fosters collaboration and innovation. And that isn’t the end of the story, the building has been designed to take on a future retail use in about 15 years.