Hassell | Adaptive reuse

Media September 04, 2023

Could vacant office buildings in Melbourne be repurposed to boost housing supply?

A new study by globally-reputed design studio Hassell reveals that there are approximately 90 office buildings built before 1990 in Melbourne that could be converted into housing for up to 20,000 people. Hassell partnered with Ethos Urban on the research study conducted on behalf of the Property Council of Australia, with the comprehensive property audit of the city centre identifying these buildings, which represent roughly 6.5% of CBD office buildings built before 1990, and can be repurposed into 10,000−12,000 new apartments, significantly adding to Melbourne’s housing supply through adaptive reuse. Read the article in Architecture & Design.

Media August 30, 2023

From WFH to living in the office: How office conversions could unlock more housing

There are growing calls to transform empty older office buildings in city centres into apartment buildings to help alleviate Australia’s rental crisis and broader housing challenges. Fresh research — conducted by Hassell for the Property Council of Australia — has identified 86 office buildings in Melbourne’s CBD that could be repurposed into housing, potentially delivering up to 12,000 new homes. Hassell principal architect Ingrid Bakker, who led the research, said the potential solution to reactivate the city offered a sustainable perspective for the future. “There’s a bit of a radical rethink that needs to happen around looking at these buildings that obviously aren’t performing very well because a lot of them are empty,” Ms Bakker said. Read the article in RealEstate.com.au

Media August 17, 2023

Hassell workplace survey says change is key for office occupancy

Hassell has released its latest report, the Great Adaptations – 2023 Workplace Futures Survey, which provides a number of insights into workplace satisfaction. The general consensus amongst built environment professionals that people must be lured back to the office via good design has been proven correct by the survey, with companies that have made a change to their offices and way of working post-pandemic recording a 17 percent higher satisfaction score compared to those who haven’t. Read the article in Architecture&Design.

News August 21, 2023

Converting vacant CBD offices into apartments could create up to 12,000 Melbourne homes

“Ripe for adaptive re-use”: Hassell’s latest Office to Home research, conducted on behalf of the Property Council of Australia in partnership with Ethos Urban, has identified 86 vacant Melbourne CBD buildings that could be converted into 10−12,000 new homes for 20,000 people.

Media August 19, 2023

Melbourne office towers considered ideal to turn into 10,000 new homes

In a property audit of the city centre, conducted by the design studio Hassell and planning consultancy Ethos Urban for the Property Council of Australia, more than 80 unoccupied and underused office buildings in Melbourne’s CBD have been identified as prime candidates “really ripe for adaptive re-use”, ie ready to be converted into more than 10,000 new homes. “If we only converted half of those, we could supply around 10,000 to 12,000 new homes, and each repurposed building would use roughly half the upfront embodied carbon compared to knocking existing buildings down and rebuilding,” said Ingrid Bakker, principal at Hassell. Read the full article in The Age. Image: Justin McManus.

Third party podcast

Samantha Peart on the Vinzero podcast

Hassell’s Head of Sustainability Samantha Peart joins the Vinzero Think Future podcast episode ‘Bee is for Built Environment.’ Listen to the podcast.

Media August 14, 2023

Hassell’s vision for a greener, more connected Uni of Melbourne campus

Hassell’s newly created masterplan for the transformation of the University of Melbourne’s campuses, Estate Master Plan, offers a glimpse and a blueprint into what is to come for the institution’s students and staff and their collective lives on campus.Green corridors, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares, improved accessibility and enhanced educational spaces characterise much of the Plan, which serves as a tangible commitment to the University’s desire to meet long-term education and research needs. Read the article in Architecture&Design.

Media August 11, 2023

First Look: University of Melbourne Masterplan Unveiled

The University of Melbourne has revealed the masterplan for its Parkville campus. Hassell was the principal design consultant for the Estate Master Plan, a blueprint for the University of Melbourne’s precincts and campuses. Under the masterplan, more than 22,000sq m of new open green space will be created for students and the community to share at the Parkville campus. Grattan Street will become an expanded green corridor connecting the historic northern precinct and a contemporary southern precinct. Read the article in The Urban Developer.

Media August 10, 2023

‘Landmark’ masterplan for University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne has released a new estate masterplan for its Parkville campus in central Melbourne. Principal design consultant Hassell created a long-term vision for the campus that would deliver more than 22,000 square metres of green space, for students, staff and the wider community. “This landmark initiative represents a pivotal milestone in enhancing the University’s commitment to learning experience and research outcomes,” said Hassell principal Mark Roehrs. “It’s a comprehensive and strategic approach to the estate that balances the re-lifing of its valuable heritage estate with new infrastructure. The University will also enhance its contribution to the city with easier ways to navigate through the University precinct and exciting new green space.” Read the article in ArchitectureAU.

Research

Great Adaptations: 2023 Workplace Futures Survey

Our annual workplace survey casts a light on the link between office transformation and employee satisfaction.

Media August 08, 2023

Hub redefines luxury workplace conventions at Martin Place

Hub Australia has announced partnerships that will enhance the working experience at its Hassell-designed Hub Martin Place, set to open in September 2023. Located at the heritage-listed 44 Martin Place, the new co-working space prioritises hospitality amenities and will feature a world-class aperitivo bar and business lounge, executive wellness spaces and a dedicated lifestyle concierge service. “At Hub Martin Place, we have set ourselves a lofty goal to create a new standard for workspace hospitality in Australia…” says Hub CEO Brad Krauskopf. “We are working with Hassell Studio to create an iconic Sydney workspace inside a beautiful heritage listed building, which is the enviable and ideal place to work for a range of high-end financial, technology, legal and blue-chip organisations in Sydney.” Read more in Architecture&Design.

News August 15, 2023

Retrofit & Repurpose: strategies to decarbonise the built environment

The upcoming Retrofit & Repurpose Summit asks how we can lower the environmental impact of our buildings and enhance our cities in a sustainable way. Hassell is a proud sponsor of this inaugural event being held on 6 September 2023 at Sydney’s Crown Towers.

Media July 30, 2023

Covid-deserted workspaces in Melbourne CBD could create 12,000 homes

Victoria’s Andrews government has asked for further investigation after a report found 90 buildings in Melbourne’s CBD could be repurposed to fix the housing crisis. Hassell’s study, conducted on behalf of the Property Council of Australia, found that subject to individual feasibility studies, approximately 86 office buildings are “ripe for adaptive reuse”. Hassell principal architect and case study leader Ingrid Bakker said the project also offers a possible solution to help reactivate the city, while also providing a sustainable outlook. Read the article… Image: courtesy Herald Sun.

Media July 25, 2023

City planning: In which the middle goes missing

Hassell's Flour Mill development in Sydney's Summer Hill

Columnist and urban commentator Elizabeth Farrelly asks why Australia’s city planning has failed to rein in endless sprawl arguing we could easily end sprawl altogether, doubling and quadrupling our density while still creating lively, walkable streets and habitable dwellings. She points to “small pockets of success, like Sydney’s delightful Flour Mill of Summer Hill (designed by Hassell for EG Funds) and Melbourne’s Nightingale developments” as exemplars of sensitive, community-minded medium-density developments. Read the full article in ArchitectureAU. Image: Mark Syke.

News July 12, 2023

Visit Hassell projects during Brisbane and Melbourne Open House weekends

Brisbane Open House and Melbourne Open House unlock the doors to each city’s iconic places and spaces. Join us for guided tours of two Hassell studios and four significant and award-winning projects.