The Prahran Hotel, Windsor Development, Victoria Building, Australia Architecture

The Prahran Hotel, Australia

Windsor Accommodation Building, Victoria design by Techne Architects

20 Jun 2013

Design: Techne Architects

Location: Windsor, Victoria, Australia

photo : Peter Clarke Photography

Windsor Hotel Building

The Prahran Hotel Australia

The Prahran Hotel is a substantial two storey corner pub with a striking streamlined art deco facade. The rear of the venue had a poorly proportioned, internalised single storey extension and the clients brief for the project called to demolish and replace it with a dramatic double height space with a central courtyard.

photos : Peter Clarke Photography

The use of large stacked concrete pipes for the street facade of the addition struck a chord for multiple reasons: they have a depth and can be interactive, they have a dramatic, sculptural quality, they reference existing internal circular motifs and they suggest stacked kegs or barrels.

photos : Peter Clarke Photography

A steel glazed courtyard cuts through the interior, connecting both levels and allowing ample natural light to flood the space. A floating booth made of half pipes is supported on steel posts and accessed via a steel gantry that traverses the room. Much of the steel structure is exposed and the concrete finish of the pipes and precast form the base of the interior palette of materials, contrasting this is the warmth of recycled spotted gum and leather upholstery and the freshness of the planting that is woven throughout the interior.

photos : Peter Clarke Photography

Whilst the space has the appeal of some spatial drama, the design’s success will be measured by the quality of the ambience and intimacy of the interior. Much effort was made to ensure that patrons have a variety of ways of gathering: private spaces contrast more social areas, there are places for couples and larger groups, and the circulation loops through both levels which encourages a voyeuristic procession through the old and new areas of the pub.

The Prahran Hotel – Building Information

Project Name: Prahran Hotel
Project completion date: May 2013
Project type: Hospitality (Pub)
Project address: 82 High Street, Windsor VIC 3181
Owner’s/Client name: Sand Hill Road
Project Size : 550m²
Project Cost : Undisclosed

Project Team
– Justin Northrop (Project/Design Director)
– Steve McKeag (Project Architect)
– Alex Lake (Architect)
– Melita Kei (Draftsperson)
– Francois Claassens (Draftsperson)
– Bianca Baldi (Interior Designer)

Time Schedule
– Design Documentation (months): 12
– Construction (months): 8

Consultants
– Builder: Visual Builders
– Structural Engineer: Parkhill Freeman
– Project Manager: N/A
– Lighting: Light Projects
– ESD: EnergyLab
– Landscaping: Ayus Botanical
– Building Surveyor: Retro Building Surveyors
– Services Engineer: BRT Consulting Engineers
– Land Surveyor: JCA Land Consultants
– Geotechnical Engineer: NSP Geotechnics Pty Ltd
– Acoustic Engineer: Burton Acoustic Group

The Prahran Hotel images / information received from Techne Architects

Peter Clarke : Photographer (external site)

Location: 82 High Street, Windsor, VIC 3181, Australia

Melbourne Hotels

Melbourne Hotel Building Designs – selection:

Hyatt Place Melbourne Caribbean Park, Scoresby
Architecture: Peter Ryan Architects

photos : Alex Reinders and John Gollings
Hyatt Place Caribbean Park, Scoresby