A Considered Trio – Ada Lane by Richards and Spence

Stitching the existing built urban fabric to the new, Ada Lane is conceived as a considered series of insertions that experiment with ideas of innovation and a respectful understanding of context. Richards and Spence animates the pedestrian-accessed strip through the creation of hospitality offerings Bianca, Same Same and Land of Smiles, each with their own unique character.

Within an expanding curated design and hospitality scene in Brisbane, Ada Lane acts as an extension of the Calile Hotel as its own considered destination that aims to bridge the old with the new. As both a placemaking and urban design exercise, the laneway contributes to the James Street Precinct and is imagined as the thread that connects the diverse building fabrics and functionality, together through their own identities and individual offerings. Through an analysis of the preceding context, its materiality and formal compositions, the development is founded on an ethos of relevance and endurance, ensuring each insertion responds in a way that will remain timeless. Deliberately steering away from designing for the present time, Richards and Spence creates three hospitality offerings that all connect to the area and a diverse patronage in their own ways.

While Bianca is warm with blush and peach tones, emphasised by a heavily terracotta palette, Same Same connects to its south-east Asian menu and is light-filled and accented by integrated plantings and textural woven seating.

Sitting within individual buildings, each of the hospitality destinations is able to express its differences from its neighbours in a subtle and selectively separate way. While Bianca is warm with blush and peach tones, emphasised by a terracotta palette, Same Same connects to its south-east Asian menu and is light-filled, accented by integrated plantings and textural woven seating. Land of Smiles differentiates itself even further, as a series of green-hued zones, expressed through gradient tonality, as a pre- or post-dinner drinking enclave. While each space has its own unique charm and distinction, they connect through a shared and honest approach to materiality and the engagement of local craftspeople, heightening details.

From each surface to the custom joinery, each element has been considered in every venue to enhance the experience as a whole and create a sense of immersion once within. The laneway has built a sense of identity through these considered activations and takes cues from the surrounding white brick and expressed concrete vernacular. Connecting to the essence of life in Brisbane is the celebration of life outdoors, which sees each of the venues engage with the shared open courtyard space, acting as a reminder of place and allowing the interior to always feel connected to the natural elements.

Land of Smiles differentiates itself even further, as a series of green-hued zones, expressed through gradient tonality, as a pre- or post-dinner drinking enclave.

Through a considered approach, Ada Lane carefully brings a series of interesting interior spaces together, both activating and enlivening the streetscape. In the process, Richards and Spence contributes to the growing popularity of the area, uniquely adding to the existing atmosphere.