Woolworths Ashfield

The Woolworths Ashfield project transforms a highly trafficked location into a vibrant neighbourhood supermarket, incorporating a cozy cafe and efficiently designed undercover car parking. This new development breathes life into a site previously housing a Brescia Furniture showroom, devastated by fire in 2005 and left derelict until this redevelopment. Throughout its design evolution, the project adapted to significant changes, including accommodating the construction of the M4/Westconnex tunnel beneath its northern edge. This adaptation led to a creative design featuring a dual-level parking structure beneath a raised supermarket, optimising the available space for lease.

Overcoming the challenge of the partially overlapping Westconnex Tunnel, the design team meticulously planned the building’s layout, aligning closely with engineers and consultants to ensure construction was possible. The focus was on customer convenience, optimising natural light, and selecting materials that matched the local aesthetic—all while adhering to sustainability goals, achieving a 5 Star Green Star rating. The project skilfully addressed varying site elevations to provide separate access for pedestrians, vehicles, and service trucks, in sync with Woolworths’ operations and the site’s contours.

The design vision united Woolworths’ branding with community-centric values to craft a standout building that also serves as a welcoming local hub. Despite challenges with building scale and height, a skillion roof uniquely shapes the Westconnex and Bland Street facades, addressing functional needs while establishing a standout visual identity. The facade on Parramatta Road features tri-tone blades and linear LED lighting, adding vibrancy at night, while the clear glazed curtain walls on Bland Street visually connect the interior with the community. This design not only achieves aesthetic excellence but also transforms the space into a welcoming community landmark, showcasing a commitment to both functionality and community integration.

Our primary objective for the interiors was to infuse the Woolworths identity with a contemporary urban twist. We sought to maintain a timeless aesthetic through a palette of black, white, concrete, and green, while incorporating textures to create visual interest.

Functionality played a crucial role in our design strategy. Ensuring comfort through effective acoustic treatment was essential. The use of varied ceiling designs allowed us to seamlessly integrate the optimal amount of acoustic panels to achieve this goal. The segmented ceiling panels were intentionally crafted to break up the visual length of the space, resulting in a more intimate and welcoming environment.

In collaboration with artist Georgia Hill, art installations were introduced both inside and out, adding a narrative layer to the building and enriching its contribution to the local aesthetic and cultural landscape. Georgia’s artwork on the lift core served as a captivating focal point for customers utilising the escalators, simultaneously enhancing the connectivity between floors.

The project’s success lies in its holistic design approach that not only navigated the complexities of building above the Westconnex tunnel but also set a new standard in supermarket design. The integration of functional, eco-friendly, and aesthetic elements culminates in a seamless shopping experience, directly connected to parking and pedestrian pathways.