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Project Overview
Located in the leafy bayside suburb of Brighton, the Spink Street development is a significant landmark within the Martin
Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre. Consisting of four levels of generous open plan commercial office space set above a
refined and inviting entrance lobby, this boutique office sets a new benchmark for the suburban office market. Externally,
faceted glazing panels merge to define the monolithic planes of the striking façade. Extending across the entire building, the
triangular motif generates multiple points of interest creating a sense of movement and dynamism across an otherwise
restrained building envelope. Internally, the large spans and open floor plates provide complete flexibility for tenants to
determine their ideal layout. Floor to ceiling glazing provides abundant natural light and expansive views from the bay to the
Melbourne CBD. A roof top terrace completes this outstanding offering providing a comfortable and secluded place for
corporate functions and entertaining.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Peter Ryan (Director), Jannette Le (Project Architect), Amanda Ngieng (Documentation Architect), Carl Areskoug (Architect), Eliza Bright (Interiors Assistant), Bryan Seng (Documentation), Vincent Kong (Architect), Sandra Mansilla Hsyu (Graduate of Architecture)
Project Brief
20 Spink Street is a speculative office development located in the leafy bayside suburb of Brighton. Comprised of four storeys of office above a ground floor lobby and parking facilities, the triangular project site is nestled between Nepean Highway (east) and the Sandringham rail line (west). A roof top terrace provided for tenant use offers expansive views from Port Philip Bay to the Melbourne CBD.
Located within the recently zoned Martin Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre, the project rejuvenated a prominent but neglected property through the development of site-specific commercial office space. Targeting a niche in the market where tenants loved the area but were dissatisfied with the current commercial offerings, our client was determined to deliver a building with generous floorplates, flexible spaces, and abundant natural light. Acknowledging the recent transition to hybrid working models, internal spaces embraced a refined domestic aesthetic more aligned to high-end residential developments.
Achieving a 100% occupancy rate at project completion validated the client’s brief and demonstrated the project team’s commitment to the design philosophy. Effective balancing brief against budget has ensured 20 Spink Street is a successful example of high-quality office space in a suburban setting.
Project Innovation/Need
Providing ‘local’ commercial space has many benefits for the surrounding urban environment. Reduced commute times, activating otherwise empty neighbourhoods during the day, and encouraging local business all enrich the surrounding area. The building was required to meet its commercial goals whilst creating positive activation of the street. The limited area, as well as the triangular site limited some architectural strategies that could have otherwise been employed. The building form responds to its context by establishing separate sides for pedestrian and vehicle access. The lobby entrance and café (with street connection) are located on the west side where footpaths link the building to Martin Street to the south and Elster Canal bike trail to the north, as well as the entry to the station. Car parking is located on the east side adjacent to Nepean Highway where there is limited foot traffic and separation of noise and fumes can be provided.
The focal point of the design is the triangular façade enveloping the entire building. Overcoming the challenge of achieving the desired aesthetic while meeting necessary fire ratings and waterproofing necessitated numerous design iterations. The goal was to minimize the visibility of joints, creating a seamless, monolithic lattice-work effect. This demanded innovative adaptation of a curtain wall system, highlighting silicone joints to produce shadow-lines along the profiles and enhance the overall visual impact.
Design Challenge
Early site analysis identified several challenging aspects to the surrounding infrastructure that necessitated a structural solution involving raising the floor level for the lobby and incorporating significant cantilevers to upper floors. The side core arrangement (along the southern boundary) generates large, clear floorplate and multiple access points to the shared circulation zone ensure floorplates can be divided into a variety of shapes and sizes. The fully glazed façade to the east and west elevations offers occupants with excellent outlook with upper levels offering views to the bay and the CBD.
The project reflects the planning overlays which call for a Key Landmark Redevelopment. This equates to a significantly taller building of five storeys in height instead of the 2-3 storey limits imposed closer to Martin Street. Due to the site position and the unique shape of Spink Street, setbacks to upper floors were not considered beneficial in this location. The adoption of vertical sides simplifies and strengthens the building volume while emphasising its triangular shape and landmark proportions. The patterned precast concrete façade to the south elevation continues the facade articulation while responding to the mixed-use concrete developments adjacent.
Sustainability
The site underwent a comprehensive removal of invasive plant species as part of the initial preparations. A central tenet of the brief was the deliberate exclusion of basement parking and the concerted effort to minimize landfill by preserving topsoils and reducing concrete usage wherever feasible. Embracing sustainability, the building operates entirely on electricity and incorporates solar panels on the roof to partially fulfill the occupants' energy needs. Energy audits were conducted at various stages of development, supported by comprehensive modeling using energy software. Additionally, the design integrates strategies to enhance the building's resilience against rising sea levels through the implementation of intelligent elevation strategies. Bike accessibility was prioritized, exemplified by carefully planned interior bike parking, capitalizing on the building's proximity to the Elster Canal bike path. While car access is accommodated, emphasis was placed on proximity to public transportation and prioritizing bike accessibility for local residents.
Architecture - Commercial - Constructed
This award celebrates the design process and product of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, and aesthetic considerations. Consideration given for material selection, technology, light and shadow.
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