CLAYTON
LABORATORY
The Australian Synchrotron is a world-class scientific research facility located in Melbourne's south east. The client required a new chemistry laboratory and storeroom to be designed beneath an existing office annex. The brief was for the ground floor extension to be cohesive and integrated with the existing building, presenting as a single unit. To provide a seamless flow from old to new, cladding and window materials were replicated, and exposed beamwork was utilised in the new awnings.
LOCATION
Clayton, VIC
SIZE
270sqm
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ROLE
Lead Designer
The suspended appearance of the existing upper storey building was emulated by stopping the cladding and wing walls of the new infill above ground level. The walls below this point were clad in a different material to convey the impression that the building is still raised off the ground. Additionally, planting along this plinth area will camouflage the grounded wall.
The curved nature of the office annex presented challenges, as did the requirement to keep the old and new buildings structurally isolated from one another.
Both the laboratory and storeroom needed to link back to the main Synchrotron building and the emergency exit from the office above needed to be relocated. Matching the distinctive rear glazing and balcony balustrades helped to give the required impression that the extension was always present!
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ARTIST IMPRESSIONS