Churches, warehouses, government offices - we had a look at the clever ways existing venues are being redesigned for hospitality purposes.
Picking where to open a venue and designing the interior are crucial considerations for the success of a hospitality business. The look and feel of the venue have a significant impact on customer experience.
But starting from a blank slate is not always a possibility. Sometimes the best location for a venue is already established – it just requires a makeover to give it a new feel. From corner shops to churches, creative folks have been transforming existing buildings into venues for drinking and dining.
We had a look at some innovative venue redesigns around Australia, re-purposing old buildings for new ventures. Below you’ll find some of our favorites!
Acre is a restaurant in Camperdown, NSW that sources the majority of its menu ingredients from the farm that surrounds it. Located in the inner city on the grounds that were once the Camperdown Bowling Club now stands the Camperdown Commons.
The venue houses Acre and the farm as well as hireable community spaces and a kids play area. What stood as a neglected space is now a thriving community revitalization project. Acre utilizes composting, recycling and water efficiency measures and formulates its menu based on the “from farm to table” approach.
Perth’s COMO The Treasury is housed in the heritage-listed State Buildings that are over 140 years old. In the past the three buildings were used for government purposes, including stints as police courts, cellblocks and offices of government officials.
The buildings were unused for decades but now, as part of an urban revitalization project, they are the site of a luxury hotel that houses two restaurants and a bar.
Holy Moley Golf Club in Fortitude Valley, QLD is the latest reincarnation of an old church that is no stranger to redesign. It has been the site of pop-up clubs and bars and has hosted gigs and dance parties. The space is now in the process of becoming a cocktail bar with a gourmet kitchen and two mini golf courses!
Sydney’s Ovolo hotels, in Woolloomooloo and Pyrmont, are situated in historic buildings that have been repurposed as contemporary luxury hotels.
Contrasting the vintage look of the exterior with the vibrant Ovolo interior, the hotels celebrate and reinvigorate the old buildings they’ve re-purposed. Ovolo Woolloomooloo is located in a heritage-listed building on the historic Finger Wharf, built at the start of the 20th Century. Ovolo 1888 in Pyrmont is located in a converted woolshed built in the 19th Century. As part of its design it has used reclaimed materials including ironbark beams and period windows, and maintained the exposed brick look of the interior – just as it was back in 1888.
Sydney’s heritage-listed Harold Park Tramsheds were once the perfect spot for graffiti artists, but are now a market hall with some of Australia’s best eateries. Open since 1904, the tramsheds have been unused since 1958 when the tramlines were removed. The arrangement of the venue allows for a communal atmosphere of shared dining and celebration of life in the inner west.
If you're thinking about redesigning your venue and you want some advice, come see award-winning designer Fady Hachem at Typsy Live Sydney on October 5th. Tickets are selling out fast, so get in quick!
Watch the event trailer:
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