New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 34/03C | Page 54

Project
T&G Building
Location:
Melbourne
Narrow laneways alive with boutique shops
and packed cafes are now a major attraction in
mature cities such as Melbourne. However, it
hasn’t always been that way. Even today, fresh
architectural moves, as with the renovation and
activation of that city’s iconic T&G Building, unlock
key connections to quintessential laneway culture.
The sensitive T&G Building makeover was
undertaken by architectural firm Bates Smart and
developed by international real estate advisor
Pembroke. The project has dramatically reactivated
the 1928 building – which was expanded on down
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Architect:
Bates Smart
the years – along with its 1993 Post Modern
connected building on Collins Street. The latter had
doubled the size of the original T&G floorplates to
around 4000m 2 – massive floorplates then and now.
The current project has opened up a rear, more
relaxed connection through to Flinders Lane, one
of the most famous reinvented service lanes in the
Hoddle Grid that defines downtown Melbourne.
Between one entry and the other, the internal
walkway now offers a rich visual experience and
includes a transformative makeover of the central
atrium, which was also introduced as part of the
Developer:
Pembroke
Previous pages:Classic,
detailed and dignified, the T&G
Building’s heritage facade signals
the crowning address at the
upmarket end of Collins Steet.
These pages:The new Collins
Street entry to the T&G Building
is all glass, revolving doors and
sophistication. Bluestone step
and steel grace the more earthy
entry from Ramsden Place.