Retold History – 45 Vere Street by Watson Young

Offering a contented response to the heritage character of its setting, 45 Vere Street by Watson Young warmly embraces Richmond’s roots while forging a contemporary identity. Ample in its assembly, the building houses a collection of generous boutique offices that are informed by the suburb’s essence, with their warehouse aesthetic evocative of the industrialisation that instrumentally shaped the current mixed-use precinct.

An iconic and bustling suburb of inner Melbourne, memories of Richmond’s early beginnings see imprints of a strong manufacturing trade and sprawling residential habitation remain. With factories foundational to the neighbourhood’s prosperity, it is no surprise that forms recalling elements of industrial design bountifully make up the backdrop of its present architectural landscape.

The distinctive hue of rich crimson is salient amongst the streetscape, summoning a visual and tactile connection to the red brick factory facades that once lined the thoroughfare.

45 Vere Street presents a palpable materialisation of retold history, with each carefully laid brick paying homage to Richmond’s traditional warehouses. The distinctive hue of rich crimson is salient amongst the streetscape, summoning a visual and tactile connection to the red brick factory facades that once lined the thoroughfare. Naturally complemented by a reserved material palette featuring black linear grids and grates, the office building acutely mirrors the minimalist composition of the warehouses it takes inspiration from.

Analogous to conveying past narratives, 45 Vere Street’s design is attentive in creating its own character. Conceived by Watson Young to deliver a modern and comfortable iteration of the familiar 21st century workplace, 45 Vere Street creates its own identity in the urban landscape, linking to the suburb’s heritage while accommodating sleek laptops and chic conference rooms in place of heavy machinery and frenzied workshop floors.

Conceived by Watson Young to deliver a modern and comfortable iteration of the familiar 21st century workplace, 45 Vere Street creates its own identity in the urban landscape, linking to the suburb’s heritage while accommodating sleek laptops and chic conference rooms in place of heavy machinery and frenzied workshop floors.

Dedicated to archiving the past while welcoming an undiscovered future to be written within, the offices have been fabricated with flexibility in mind. Embracing personalisation through adaptable design, 45 Vere Street’s workspaces put forward a blank canvas, allowing tenants to shape their own unique working environment. Each open plan office boasts private amenities, parking and secure contactless entry, as well as dedicated street access to the building. In tandem with a number of airy balconies and rooftop terraces accessed through glass sliding doors, vistas towards the city skyline and homey interior design, the development’s features lend a sense of familiar residential charm that functions to attract office workers in a post-pandemic climate.

Following guiding tenets of honouring its setting and environment, 45 Vere Street encompasses sustainable initiatives to ensure its existence is one of light permanence. Passively designed, the building encourages an abundance of natural light through its double-glazed windows and skylights, while an underground tank captures rainwater for re-use. Solar systems are installed on 11 offices while the three with rooftop terraces feature solar hot water systems. EV charging facilities and bike amenities further serve the building’s occupants and encourage the reduction of pollution by motorised transport. Recycled bricks that comprise the striking facade continue within interior spaces. Such robust materiality minimises the development’s need for maintenance and increases its longevity.

Visually impactful yet sensitive to its presence in the streetscape, 45 Vere Street’s industrial form and considered inclusions deftly enriches the metropolitan fabric of Richmond in acknowledgement of the suburb’s present needs and past history.