50 Smith Street
For the Three Towers Group, we designed a proposal for the new commercial and retail building. which rearticulates the corner of Derby and Smith Street, Collingwood.
The proposed development aims to provide an environmentally sustainable, high-quality building, with retail on the ground and basement levels, and commercial on the upper levels. The new development will retain and restore the existing heritage building of 48-52 Smith Street, while the adjacent new construction at 46 Smith Street, will house all the primary building services, stairs and lift elements. The ground focuses on street activation with café and bar spaces opening out onto the Smith and Derby Street. Four entrances at the ground level will activate street fronts, and the existing loading lane will be physically widened with the F&B terrace, allowing pedestrian and cyclist access along.
The first principle of the proposed massing concept is a clear demarcation between the heritage (existing) building and the
new extension.
The second principle is the reconstruction of the two storeys street wall characteristic for the Smith Street profile.
A combination of both yields the lightweight, materially different extension, placed above the ‘heavy’ base of the existing building.
The existing heritage building has been heavily alternated externally and internally over time and contains no high-quality
architectural components. The proposal seeks to retain most corner building and restore the street active, retail use of the heritage wall fabrics. The existing windows and doors will be carefully repurposed for the specific program use.
Inspired by Collingwood street corner treatments’ historical tradition, the envelope design suggests a pronounced Smith and Derby Street corner’s articulation. The first-floor alignments with the cornered geometry provide the systemic and rational link between the podium and the upper part.
