Australian architecture firm, i2C Architects, has announced its involvement in the iconic and heritage-listed The Goods Shed Ballarat redevelopment. The building forms a part of the Ballarat Station Precinct on Lydiard Street and is set to transform the local area with its new food and beverage offerings and event spaces.
Working alongside the developer Pellicano, i2C was brought onto the project development team due to its expertise in placemaking and heritage sensitivities. The design practice was responsible for the careful retention of the heritage-listed Ballarat Ranger Barracks in 2009.
Drawing inspiration from place, locality and its heritage overlay, i2C and the collaborating teams have ensured retention of as much character as possible, with artefacts being salvaged from the previous buildings to use within The Goods Shed and surrounding areas of the precinct. The pitched roof and the industrial feel remains in line with the developer’s commitment to restoring the site to its former glory.
Originally planned to comprise mostly retail tenants, The Goods Shed will now house a myriad of food and beverage tenants. i2C Associate Anthony Haslam said this decision was the result of almost a year’s worth of conversations with the project team.
“Ballarat has become quite the destination in recent years, particularly when interstate and overseas travel is so commonly off the cards now. When we were brought onto the project, we wanted to give this lively location the foodie hub it deserves. This idea, of course, was made increasingly possible when hospitality partner Atlantic Group joined the core project team as the conference centre operator,” Mr Haslam said.
“Pairing our background in designing breweries and urban community spaces with this much-loved hospitality business, has meant that we’ve been able to create purposeful spaces for connection and culinary enjoyment. Across the various separate buildings, whether it be a conference, a wedding, a family lunch or a quick coffee among friends – the spaces have been specifically designed to increase usability with food and beverage in mind.”
From a design perspective, diners can expect high end, industrial interiors that nod to Ballarat’s history, like battening and bluestone, timber beams and columns, and exposed brickwork. The elevated design plays with the deepening of materials and brings a layer of warmth to the highly considered food and beverage spaces.
i2C’s Interior Design team also worked on the amenities for The Goods Shed’s Events Hall, which features textured marble-like tiles, arched mirrors and sleek contrasting colours. The firm designed the bar, banquet hall, theatre, meeting spaces, as well as the amenities.
According to Interior Designer Kate Ellis, the design philosophy was to create an inviting and luxurious space, whilst highlighting existing heritage elements.
“It was really important to keep the heritage aspects – like bluestone and timbers – top of mind when designing these spaces, and these add a real warmth as well,” Ms Ellis said.
“Usability, of course, was a key focus for us when it came to the amenities, but at the same time, we wanted the attractive features to follow on to these purpose-driven spaces. So should the venue host a wedding or a 30th birthday party, we want attendees to take a mirror selfie and feel as though the amenities are just as attractive as the rest of the venue.”
Further to i2C’s interior design and documenting work, its Senior Graphic Designer Dan Coman has led the concept design of pylon signage and wayfinding throughout the precinct, which features designs celebrating characteristics from the original Ballarat site.
The restored The Goods Shed is planned to open in early 2022.