A New Model For Adaptive Re-use – Camperdown Warehouse by Archer Office

Just as loose furniture is placed according to convenience and functionality, Tomek Archer of Archer Office approached Camperdown Warehouse with the goal of allowing the residents to adapt their space to suit their needs.

Providing the architecture and design industry with a benchmark approach to adaptive re-use, Archer Office’s Camperdown Warehouse is a conversion of a factory to a three-bedroom residence. The century-old structure was used by several car companies, including Rolls Royce. Though the building was converted into a series of apartments during the early 1990s, it did not take advantage of the lavish volume that the shell of the building affords.

Led by the studio’s founding director Tomek Archer, Camperdown Warehouse showcases design that has a grasp on balancing materials and textures. From right to left, black painted steel, concrete and timber surfaces refract natural light, casting a beautiful glow. With such a brightly lit interior, the expanse of the living space ceiling becomes impossible to miss. There is a clear distinction between the old and new as the concrete columns contrast with refined steel details and glazing, yet the new design also seeks to embrace the building’s industrial past through the material palette.

Archer Office’s Camperdown Warehouse is a conversion of a factory to a three-bedroom residence.

With no internal walls, there is a strong connection between zones within the warehouse. As each space is fitted with sliding screens and bi-fold doors, when opened the interior can appear as a single monolithic volume. Opening up the space when the owners wish to entertain, the flexible partitions also enables them to compartmentalise when required. In addition to the use of screens and bi-fold doors, furniture, both loose and built-in, becomes key to defining areas within the larger space.

The conscious decision of using furniture as structure not only maximises space, it also enables visual consistency, with furniture complementing the architecture. Central to the living space, the Campfire Table – designed in 2002 by Tomek as a university student – invites people to congregate around it. Reminiscent of a gathering around the campfire, the glass-top sits on top of three interlocking timber legs. In the same manner, the kitchen features a single island bench with in-built furniture and appliances. By isolating the cooktop on the far end of the kitchen bench, the act of cooking transforms into a spectacle.

Led by the studio’s founding director Tomek Archer, Camperdown Warehouse showcases design that has a grasp on balancing materials and textures.

Recently shortlisted for the Australian Design Awards this year, Archer Office’s design approach of Camperdown Warehouse is also innovative for its ability to exude comfort. The ‘loose-fit’ interior gives the impression that the design is highly adaptable as it is temporary, creating a sense that the space can responsively change according to its residents’ needs.

Working within the shell of the 100-year-old warehouse, Archer Office has not only devised a new model for adaptive re-use, but for responsive residential design. In doing so, Camperdown Warehouse transcends the limitations of traditional fixed rooms and spaces, integrating furniture and architecture as two key parts of one cohesive whole.