Lovell Chen's latest architectural project has been unveiled on the banks
of the Yarra in the heart of Melbourne — an extension to the Melbourne University
Boat Club boatshed in Alexandra Gardens.

The boatshed's location in riverside parkland, at the east end of a 'set piece' row of buildings, posed particular design challenges, and a desire to find a contemporary design solution appropriate to the setting.

MUBC was established in 1859 and is the oldest rowing club in the country. Its existing 1909 boatshed was designed by prominent Melbourne architect A.S. Eggleston, and is last in the row of historic structures on the sensitive site, opposite Federation Square. When a small plot immediately adjacent became available, the club was able to contemplate a much-needed extension, looking for flexible internal spaces and compact boat storage.

To avoid dominating the existing listed structure or interfering with its relationship to the river, the extension is set as far back as the confined plot would allow and its height carefully considered. The ground floor level is set half a metre into the ground, the deepest the water table would let us go, enabling the provision of an extra floor. From the outside, the three-storey steel-frame extension appears to be a two storey building, just like its neighbour. This effect is helped along by the timber trellis that forms part of the cladding.

Despite appearances, the extension is free-standing, with no structural connection to the existing building. We strongly believe that the new work should be integrated with the old but entirely reversible. The two structures are timber clad — the old painted white, the new painted black with matching gable pitches and corrugated iron roofs. The new roof closely overhangs the old but doesn't touch it.

Boat storage occupies the ground floor, with multi-functional spaces on the two floors above. Disabled access is via a lift housed in the tower at the rear. A main feature of the interior is a void space that connects the inside with the outside, creating a verandah-like effect. On the upper level, you feel like you're in a pavilion in the trees. Sunlight floods in and there's a clear view of the river, which in turn sends back rippling river-reflected light.

As the ground floor boat storage area is necessarily limited in size, we designed a 'compacting' boat racking system to store the rowing shells efficiently.

[ photos: John Gollings ]

In 2004, the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was amended to cover cultural heritage as well as the natural environment. Under the EPBC Act, Australian government departments and agencies such as Australia Post are required to have a heritage strategy to guide them in the management of heritage properties, including those on the new Commonwealth Heritage List. We helped them develop their original HERITAGE STRATEGY and updated it in 2008.

We also assisted Australia Post in establishing a register of its own heritage places and identified places for nomination to the Commonwealth Heritage List. More than 50 places were identified for nomination.

As part of our ongoing work, we continue to advise Australia Post on works proposals, the divestment of heritage properties and works approvals under the EPBC Act.

[ post offices pictured (clockwise from top left) — North Hobart (Tas), Bundaberg (Qld), Warwick (Qld) and Camperdown (Vic) — and on the home page is Kyneton Post Office (Vic) ]
[ photos Lovell Chen ]