New Horizons – 186-190 Lygon St by Warren and Mahony

Offering a layered architectural injection into a culturally diverse locale in Melbourne, 186-190 Lygon Street is a new mixed-use project of retail and high-end commercial suites. Warren and Mahoney proposes a sleek, modern insertion designed to assimilate into and elevate the evolving urban streetscape.

Nestled in the busy centre of Carlton, this boutique development is a carefully articulated architectural response to site and brief. The project speaks to a desire to bring new employment opportunities to the area and becomes a defining symbol of Lygon Street’s development while remaining respectful of its neighbourhood’s heritage character.

The proposal for 186-190 Lygon Street addresses the benefits of the building’s favourable location in terms of its prominent corner site and adjacency to Argyle Park. The scale and rhythm of openings facilitate an exchange between the ground floor, streetscape and interior spaces. In this way, the project harnesses the urban realm at the corner of Lygon Street and Pelham Street to again bring life and energy into the once-vibrant streetscape.

Materiality prioritises quality over complexity. Façades follow a reductive and highly considered approach – materials such as brick, steel and dark bronze are used to create a simple yet sophisticated contrasting palette complementary to the heritage fabric. Interiors take a minimalist and robust approach to demonstrate a commitment to low-car-bon construction and operation. As such, the primary structure has been designed utilising mass timber columns, beams and floor systems.

The proposal for 186-190 Lygon Street is a restrained response fora mixed-use development that illustrates an evolving architectural landscape. Through a modern design that remains sensitive to the heritage façade of the area, Warren and Mahoney proposes an exemplary model for future developments around Melbourne.

The project harnesses the urban realm at the corner of Lygon Street and Pelham Street to again bring life and energy into the once-vibrant streetscape.