Brisbane City Council has approved the adaptive reuse of a historic fabrication shed and a new riverside pavilion at the Bulimba Barracks site in the city's east.
Designed by global architecture practice Buchan, the buildings are the first stage of a master planned community envisioned for the 21-hectare site, which was purchased by the Shayher Group from the Department of Defence in 2020. A proposed medium-density residential complex is intended to follow.
Buchan senior associate and project lead Lynn Van Dievoort said, "The new neighbourhood will integrate with the surrounding residential areas, opening up opportunities for connectivity and access to the riverfront and creating a new destination."
The fabrication shed, which Buchan notes dates to World War II, is intended to form the heart of the precinct. Van Dievoort noted the importance of respecting the shed's heritage. "The idea is to celebrate the existing building and give it a new life," she commented.
Facing the river to the north, the shed's main entry will be punctuated by a new awning attached to the existing facade. Buchan has proposed to glaze this elevation, noting in a media release that this treatment "reveals the internal timber roof trusses and delivers light to the interior."
The west side of the shed is envisioned by the architecture practice as "a lively hospitality zone and community gathering space" with an entry to the shed's internal food, beverage and retail tenancies. A boutique supermarket at the southern end is intended to service the growing residential precinct.
Materially, Buchan has looked to use weatherboard, metal and flatsheet cladding in keeping with the original shed. The practice notes that "where possible, materials will be salvaged and re-used, including barn-style doors and structural timbers."
A landscaped pedestrian laneway will link the shed to the river and to a proposed multi-residential complex to the east. According to Buchan's communique, the laneway will be a place to "host community gardens, play spaces and public art, with the potential for markets and events."
Within the riverfront parkland, which is undergoing development to become a riverside walk, Buchan has also proposed a new pavilion whose perforated roof is inspired by a tree canopy. The pavilion is intended to be completed in two stages, accommodating a sales office in the short term and expanding later to become a cafe or restaurant.
Van Dievoort noted that despite its proximity to the water, the site has been inaccessible because of the Barracks.
"The development will open up the riverfront and provide a new offering to locals and visitors alike," she said. "High amenity, climate-responsive neighbourhoods attuned to Brisbane's climate and way of life provide a great model for contemporary living as we move towards a higher-density city."
