Abandoned Bank Vaults Transformed – Paspaley Pearls Office by Richard Stanisich
A repurposing of existing urban fabric, Paspaley Pearls Office transforms abandoned bank vaults into a contemporary and enlivened commercial space for its new tenants. Richards Stanisich layers in elements from the unique shell and its heritage with newer insertions that connect the brand to place.
Connecting the heritage upon which Paspaley Pearls has been built together with the interwoven heritage of the 110-year-old bank vaults the space takes occupancy in, there is a natural coming together and kinetic cohesion. Located in Sydney, tucked into the underground foundations of the city, the vaults had been left unused and decaying, without use or purpose, waiting for the ideal match. The reuse as an appropriate commercial space both exemplifies the richness in repurposing inner urban fabric and the added value to the experience of space through a layered expression of history. Much akin to the diving and uncovering of gems as part of the brand’s practice, the commercial space offers a fitting experience as customers and guests descend down aged stairs and into the repurposed protective vaulted shells. Richard Stanisich utilises a layered approach, both in materiality and the integration of the old with the new, revealing and concealing as key signifiers of the experience of the space.
Built by Intermain, Paspaley Pearls Office is designed as an immersion, literally and physically, into a world of luxury and a nuanced unique adventure. Its location under the shared street level further adds to its significance and an element of exclusivity. Notably, the location and its past set the tone for the resulting undertaking, but it is the careful inclusion of rich and tactile elements, finely crafted and detailed, that aim to engage the senses and leave a lasting resonance. Contrasting handmade ceramic subway tiles line walls, while plush salmon coloured carpet is felt underfoot and timber and metal touches frame the varying rooms. The newer elements are interwoven carefully in with the existing steel and exposed rivet structural members, sitting comfortably and deliberately.
Amongst the underground siting, a pre-existing arrangement of volumes naturally divides the overall mass, breaking down the otherwise bunker-esque spaces into more intimate and private enclaves. In combining such significant heritage elements with a polished contemporary approach, the resulting spaces reflect an evolution of process, while still being connected to the brand’s origins.
Paspaley Pearls Office beautifully makes use of an otherwise idle but important part of the city of Sydney’s built fabric and past. Through a linked binding of values and the retained and expressed robustness of its enduring structure, Richards Stanisich has created the ideal pairing of past, present, brand and place.
