Located in Goulburn Street, Hobart, this project is a conversion of the heritage listed ‘Bulls Head’ hotel (originally built 1828) into two inner-city apartments.

At the outset, it was felt that work within a building of such strength of character and historical importance must be minimal.

 

Given the conditions of the brief, including a tight budget, the proposal needed to be composed of a series of small-scale, material interventions. The accented use of materials lends greater clarity to the existing fabric, and is an approach that has been honed within the practice over a number of years. The interventions that were subsequently proposed sought to increase the livability and amenity of the existing spaces, while also heightening the experience of the original heritage fabric.

​

A key design challenge for the project was to reconcile and carefully rework the sectional relationship throughout the building, which, prior to any intervention, was split awkwardly across 5 ½ levels. The project works with the conditions and character of the existing heritage fabric, through a careful sequencing and arrangement of spaces and materials. Particular delight has been taken in detail, with the use of a minimal contemporary insertions set against the richness of the original fittings and textures.