Stanley Street Woolloongabba
Where once a dilapidated shell of its former self sat, now shines a beacon of hope for the resurgence of a power precinct. Originally known as ‘Shop Row’ and built in the early 1900s, James Davidson has lovingly and meticulously restored the Stanley Street precinct brick-by-brick, funded and spurred on by the innovative eye of Brisbane businessman, Steve Wilson.
“This project features a series of interconnected and overlapping functions,” James says. “The architectural challenge was to navigate what is essentially a three-dimensional jigsaw into one harmonious and cohesive design.”
In order to pay homage and protect the integrity of the precinct’s original heritage listing, James began on a highly considered journey to reinvigorate the space that now houses French restaurant C’est Bon, rooftop bar Le Bon Bar, James’ design studio JDA Co. and the office of Steve Wilson.
“I wanted to honour the precinct’s history yet enliven the strip in a way that introduces a new dynamism to the area.”
Beginning with the interiors of C’est Bon, James removed the dark, original internal partitioning, opening up the interior and creating a light-filled fit out worthy of its heritage street frontage. The pre-existing tongue-and-groove timber ceilings and sandstone and brick walls were given a gentle refresh, a calling card of James’ sustainable approach to restoration. Careful to step lightly on the original building materials, the team added lighting via way of an arched frame that creates a dramatic statement without compromising the heritage details.
Outside, a new terrace frames the enviable view, capped with an archway that references the interior and pays homage to the materiality of its surroundings. Austral Bricks’ ‘La Paloma Glazed’ Black Thin Brick were used inside the frame, working in combination with ‘Coastal’ bricks in Limestone which were cut through core holes to provide a vertical texture that appears almost timber-like.
“Given Shop Row itself is built of brick it made sense to continue with it,” says James. “In order to economise, the bricks were cut in half and used as tiles over the concrete block substructure. This meant we could use both the rough interior cut side of the brick and the smooth exterior in horizontal bands.”
“The horizontal banding references the surrounding heritage buildings of the local Mater hospital precinct. I felt it was nice to not only reference, but also abstract the surrounding heritage fabric. It’s a comment on the past but also our time now. It becomes a statement about a ‘living heritage’.”
Further upwards, the rooftop bar – Le Bon Bar, was painstakingly designed using laser scanning to measure the space and overcome the initial access restrictions. “We designed the structure to sit atop the heritage walls of the existing building,” James explains. “In essence, it’s perched on a platform that is supported on a series of legs that carefully attach to the existing heritage walls.”
The orientation of the bar looks out over Mater Hill and nearby iconic Brisbane institution, the Gabba – a subtle statement that remains inconspicuous from the street.
The remaining additions were the side-by-side offices of JDA CO. and businessman Steve Wilson, where high arched ceilings and abundant natural light create a contemporary yet understated grandeur – a true nod to the heritage character and charm of the precinct’s storied past.
“Cities are not defined by their suburbs, they’re defined by memorable streets — those that have significant character, history and form,” Steve explains.
“Our ambition is to transform the street into a central hub where artists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs and business owners can live, work and play in a truly creative environment.”
“The pre-existing tongue-and-groove timber ceilings and sandstone and brick walls were given a gentle refresh, a calling card of James’ sustainable approach to restoration.”
“The pre-existing tongue-and-groove timber ceilings and sandstone and brick walls were given a gentle refresh, a calling card of James’ sustainable approach to restoration.”
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