nettletontribe Brisbane Studio

nettletontribe’s new Brisbane studio reinvigorates and repurposes a 100+yr old brick merchants bulk store, originally designed by Chambers and Powell in 1913.

Reinvigorating and repurposing a 100+yr old brick merchants bulk store.

The site is a compact 600m spread over two levels. The existing building consisted of two independent but adjoining brick warehouses with 3m floor height differential. The lower building was the original bulk store designed with no external windows or natural light. The existing building fabric had no visual connectivity between the lower 450sqm warehouse space and the upper 150 sqm volume.

Initially hidden under the layers of previous fit outs the building structure was slowly revealed through an early works demolition process. It wasn’t until this work was effectively completed that the process of designing the new studio could proceed unabated. With suspended ceilings removed original roof trusses were revealed. Years of termite and water damage to the original fabric was repaired. A heritage brick contractor carefully exposed the original internal glazed brick and the external glazed brick façade pattern from the original 1913 design.

There were no existing heritage constraints placed on the building, however given the architectural pedigree and the social history of the place the design sought to retain and celebrate the original building fabric.

Previous Use On the upper floor level, the design provides a space to connect with the wider design community, providing a flexible function space arranged to accommodate a broad range of activities. The 150sqm living room and kitchen includes a designated external courtyard space which opens directly to the street. The space is conceived along the lines of a domestic living space, including a lounge, dining zone and large kitchen with an external courtyard and BBQ area. The space can operate independently with amenities designed to accommodate use for client and design community functions of up to 150 people. Typically, the space accommodates design workshops, VR presentations and our Pour and Present Friday afternoon social activities.

A fresh way of thinking about how people engage in the workplace environment, and placing emphasis on staff comfort and interaction.

A vibrant new architectural studio.

The completed project has created a vibrant new architectural studio space for nettletontribe that is lively and engaging. The workspace is an active environment based on the principles of collaboration and consultation. Placing the focus on social connections and staff interactions which is critically important in the post-COVID, working from home landscape. While in the local context, revealing and celebrating the materiality of the original building the design has reinvigorated the Springhill streetscape.