Watkins Street Studio, White Gum Valley
Multiple Lives.
The old deli and beauty salon were closed down by 2002.
This project, the conversion of an old suburban shop, was an exercise in adaptability to repurpose its life into the future.
Inserting the pod created spatial flexibility for different uses over time.
Originally Sonia's Beauty Salon, it became an office for Ehdo. From the very beginning of us working there, it was to become a residential apartment down the track, so planning was put in place to allow this flexibility of use.
The pod was designed as a self-contained unit that could be transported to site and simply built around.
We designed a ‘pod’ that provides a kitchen, universal access bathroom/toilet/laundry space & storage. The pod was located in such a way as to spatially arrange the single volume into different zones, without the need for additional internal walls.
Watkins Street Studio today with mature gum trees in the old car park.
This arrangement applied when it was as an office, exhibition space and finally an apartment. Who knows what it will become next?
The space being used for an exhibition of the art of Eveline Kotai - Image Ben Green.
Currently used as an apartment.