Autor: COX Architecture

The foremost challenge was to design a space to suit both the way we work now and how we want to work in the future. Second, we needed to ensure we applied our wider philosophies about society, community, buildings, space and materials to our own domain.

The refurbishment of our studio has taken us on a journey of exploration and discovery within a space we thought we knew well, having been residents of the building since 1998.

Old Mineral House, originally built in 1890 is one of the few remaining Victorian buildings in Brisbane, serving as a rare architectural reminder of Brisbane’s industrial heritage. Its former beauty, only hinted at through the remaining original cornices and other detail was buried under layers of partitions, carpets, paint and false ceilings, a result of decades of piecemeal conversions.

Significant elements of the building’s construction have been hidden for some time. Internally the building’s structure is predominantly intact.

We were delighted to first discover and then preserve the original timber fish-bone structure and a series of cast iron columns. Stripping the brickwork exposed a remarkable patina of colour and texture that tells an evocative story of the building’s history, which we will keep on-show as we add new pages to the story of Old Mineral House.

A democratic and open approach to planning has been applied to the studio, recognising the dual drivers of fluidity and collaboration within the practice. The building is positioned adjacent to the Botanical gardens and the Brisbane River and celebrating this proximity was key and so providing uninterrupted views across the studio and through the heritage windows was a primary requirement.