A new rooftop pavilion has been proposed for Melbourne’s heritage-listed Nicholas Building, one of the city’s oldest and most diverse vertical creative precincts.
Designed by Henry Norris in 1926 and located at 37 Swanston Street, the Nicholas Building is is a landmark office and retail building influenced by the “Chicago-style” architecture prevalent in Melbourne during the time.
Proposed designs by Urban Creative Studio show a new rooftop pavilion and green public space featuring inbuilt solar technology, which will provide a space for hosting a range of creative and arts programs atop the 100-year-old building.
The pavilion would incorporate a recessive design with generous setbacks to respect the heritage of the Nicholas Building, while providing a place to gather among curated artist gardens.
It would serve as a multi-functional live performance venue and hospitality offering, to host cultural events programs with local, regional and international partners. The new space would host a suite of events and experiences, including festivals, exhibitions, performances, forums, symposia and more.
The design would feature a green roof with a tree canopy to contribute to urban cooling and assist the collecting and reusing of rainwater.
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Urban Creative Studio
The design would feature a green roof with a tree canopy to contribute to urban cooling and assist the collecting and reusing of rainwater, and the rooftop would generate its own electricity by harnessing solar energy.
The vision builds on the existing studio spaces in the labyrinthine Art Deco building, which is currently home to more than 200 artists, creatives and other enterprises, including bespoke bookstores, independent boutiques, recording studios and more.
Alongside the restoration and upgrade of the Nicholas Building rooftop, works would also include the renewal of facilities, including new performance spaces and hospitality venues. The revamp will help to preserve the landmark tower as a valuable cultural asset into the future.
In July 2022, the Nicholas Building was sold to investment firm Forza Capital for a reported $80 million. “Forza Capital is excited about the opportunity to provide capital towards the purchase, restoration and upgrade of the Nicholas Building together with the long term protection of the occupants of the building. This is a globally significant collection of artisans and will be lost forever without the assistance of both government and the private sector.”
The City of Melbourne has also contributed to the funding for the redevelopment works. The Nicholas Building Association said it has raised 75 percent of capital required to realise the project through private and public investment.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
