To re-invigorate and transform a heritage post office building in to a restaurant and bar.

A heritage listed Post Office, originally designed as a two-storey residence and commercial space, proved challenging in its conversion to restaurant. The brief required consideration of many opposing qualities; enclosed and inviting, imposing and unconstrained and, connection and separation.

Re/forming the Crown

It was both the buildings’ new purpose and the heritage architecture that gave rise to a design response which, drew upon a re-working of existing details such as the royal crown motif and one penny red stamp in addressing the client’s restaurant ethos. 

The graphic design mimicked line work from the traditional etched print marks on stamps.

Material adaptation

Rich materials were selected for the new work, inserted against a largely in-tact heritage building. Raw metals such as zinc and brass were left unfinished or patinated and recycled Ironbark timber was used for flooring and tabletops. Lighting was designed to be soft and focused to create intimacy.

The existing fabric

Stripping out old service areas and bathrooms from modifications in the 60’s and 70’s laid bare the original and sometimes deteriorated building fabric which was re-built and made good.

A modern post office operation had replaced the ground floor residence, the original bay window removed for post boxes and the entry closed over which was re-instated.