Fender Katsalidis undertook the design task of transforming The Australian Institute of Music into a single campus and all the challenges that presented.
January 24th, 2020
With over a hundred years of history, the Foveaux Street, Surry Hills site that makes up the Australian Institute of Music’s (AIM) campus has seen a fair share of history. Home to an early 1900s converted warehouse, the 1930s heritage brick structure and an infill building from 2015 have all become integrated through this new renovation of the site by Melbourne-based architecture firm, Fender Katsalidis.
Director of Fender Katsalidis, Rob Mirams stated that the design aligns with AIM solidifying its move towards becoming a single campus.
“At the core of our design work was to create a unified campus, giving AIM a soul and putting student experience first. It’s difficult for students to feel they are part of a community when departments are spread across a city,” says Mirams.
AIM prides itself on its exceptionally diverse university offering courses in music, dance, stage design, entertainment and industry management. Each course held a requirement to accommodate both practical and theoretical education spaces, which ultimately led to a difficult design challenge for Fender Katsalidis – one that’s solution required spaces to be designed with the versatility and the idea of multifunction in mind.
“Each space we have created has more than one function and goes beyond simple multipurpose spaces by genuinely being designed for various uses specific to the university, its courses and student needs,” Mirams commented.
This resulted into a myriad of multi-faceted environments that can be used to suit the individual – performance areas which transform into learning environments; to auditoriums that double as performance and lecture theatres; and dynamic student breakout areas that can be transformed into impromptu performance spaces.
A homage to the heritage of the existing structure, the buildings original features have been preserved and were included into the interior design philosophy with clerestory windows repaired to create naturally lit, lofty areas.
Fender Katsalidis incorporated a simple and raw material palette, elevated in depth with textures and deep tones – adding a contemporary soul to the 1930s building. Where aesthetic meets functionality, acoustic cork floors blanket the communal spaces; carpets are installed in practice rooms, recording studios and auditoriums; and timber acoustic panels are present in various spaces to support the user experience.
“People react positively to well-designed spaces, and this is fundamental in harnessing momentum for students to engage and collaborate.”
If you loved this, we think you’d might like Mooncraft takes you on a journey. Join our digital community and get weekly inspiration straight to your inbox.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Rounding up the movers and shakers across architecture and design in February 2024, including news from McGregor Coxall, Buchan and more.
It’s the final round of career moves for 2023. Stretching back to November, it’s a bumper list full of diverse and exciting appointments.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Award-winning interior practice Esoteriko has designed the headquarters of a luxury real estate operator, creating a flexible and efficient space despite challenges posed by its amorphous footprint.
Rounding up the movers and shakers across architecture and design in February 2024, including news from McGregor Coxall, Buchan and more.