Cheerful Charm – Butcher Shop Conversion by tsai Design

Butcher Shop Conversion is a project that’s exactly as it sounds. A former butcher shop in the coastal Victorian city of Geelong has been transformed into a shopfront and office for tsai Design, with the back half of the site set to become a residence in the near future.

Original features of the building have been retained with a charming effect. Sky blue tiles surround a large display window, offering a cheery exterior. On display in said window are furniture pieces by tsai Design, architectural models and lush indoor plants that trail happily around the interior.

On display in said window are furniture pieces by tsai Design, architectural models and lush indoor plants that trail happily around the interior.

The most has been made of this incredibly public-facing aspect of the site. Behind the display window, an operable portion of wall opens out – similar to French windows – connecting the office interior with the sun-filled display area and the street beyond. Conversely, and practically, this can be closed off to foster a sense of privacy and security inside.

The office interior still bears traces of the former building with sections of original walls left exposed, paint chips, scuffs, cracks and all. Whitewashed plywood panelling, with exacting shadow gaps and subtle joinery, balance out the original walls, reframing these ‘imperfections’ as points of interest. With a gentle touch and simple materials, tsai Design has embraced the old to create a new, fully functional space filled with character and purpose.