The blackened steel staircase artfully channels the industrial design aesthetic at 180 Bank St, South Melbourne. In the place where once butter was churned, now it will be tomorrow’s churn of innovation and new ideas!
The iconic 1930s Melbourne Butter Supply factory at 180 Bank Street, South Melbourne, within the shadow of the Clarendon Street shopping strip, has been reinvented into premium-grade office space, with the best of old and new. WMK Architects design aesthetic was to retain as much as the original structure and features as possible, hence the exposed brickwork and steelwork, original timber floors and polished concrete. However at the same time, they wanted to open it up and bring in an abundance of natural light via a huge skylight in the centre of the building over a newly created full height atrium.
Central to the atrium is the blackened steel staircase made from plate steel balustrades and finished in a unique, specialty wax finish, with solid timber tread finishes adding a textural warmth. The specialty finish of the stairs is perfect for the installation, embodying the industrial ethos with a depth of natural patina that will age gracefully with the space. The stairs were fabricated complete in one of Active Metal’s factory’s and freighted to site were they were hoisted into place with the site crane before having the remaining finishes completed
Completed by respected builders Renascent, the completed project promises to be one of the most unique and well positioned office spaces in South Melbourne. South Melbourne has been a hub for creative and high-tech industries for decades, and The Butter Factory with its iconic heritage appeal, EOT facilities and modern, connected 4 level office, is destined to be a premier office location.
See also Steel Plate Balustrade
180 Bank St Melbourne
Client: Financial Services Melbourne
Builder: RenascentÂ
Interior Design: WMK Architecture
Photographer: Jonathan Mcfeat
Location: 180 Bank St, South Melbourne
Work Completed by Active Metal
Detailed design, fabrication, engineering, delivery and installation of structural steel feature stairs, balustrade & handrails, void & bridge glazed balustrades, stair finishes including blackened steel, exposed soffits, timber stair tread, tactile indicators