Celebration of Industrial Beauty - Redfern Warehouse by Ian Moore Architects

An existing warehouse is lightly touched in its adaptive repurposing as a residential family home and office space. Redfern Warehouse sees Ian Moore Architects express and celebrate the structure’s original nuances.

Situated in the Redfern area, the conversion of the warehouse called for the preservation of the existing exterior bones while providing a response to a residential brief. Essentially a large empty shell, the previous occupation of the space required openness, with minimal support or ancillary spaces internally, and no treatment for acoustic attenuation. For the conversion, the consideration of these obvious points was imperative, but at the core of all work was a shared vision to intervene as lightly as possible on what had come before. Ian Moore Architects’ resulting work is testament to this.

With the exterior of the warehouse fundamentally untouched apart from the insertion of a few additional windows into existing openings, all efforts internally were driven by a similar restrained approach. The renovation sees the space transformed into a four-bedroom family home, with self-contained guest accommodation, a home office and a large garage to store the owner’s collection of classic sports cars. The office space was to accommodate the requirements of an equine genetics laboratory, which is reflected in the materiality.

Vertically, the space is then divided based on its passive and active functionality. The upper floor houses all of the living spaces, and below the ancillary and support areas have been located. Additionally, a large outdoor recreation space acts as an extension of the main living area, providing access to natural light and ventilation.

Throughout the diverse range of multi-functional spaces, the emphasis on maintaining a sense of the industrial was key for both the client and architect. The chosen materiality had to reflect a sense of comfort, be low maintenance and also show a respect of context to the building’s previous life. The original brick walls have been purposely exposed and the large timber trusses are celebrated. These trusses then act as lines of division on the upper floor, with the bottom edge of the trusses delineating the space and acting as a datum, with clear glazing above. This aids in the visual continuance of the trusses throughout the ceiling space.

Together with builder Elliott Projects, art consultant Eloise Art Advisory and stylist Tess Strelein, Ian Moore Architects has respectfully transformed the wearied shell of an existing space into a vibrant residential home. The new chapter carved out through complementing the existing and celebrating the nuanced detailing, has seen minimal intervention through the preservation of the original fabric, ensuring Redfern Warehouse remains endowed with its original industrial charm, which it now shares with its new guardians.