Crouch and Wilson<\/a>, who designed Hawksburn Primary School. Oddly enough, this particular design did not wind up being reproduced, making it even more unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe way the school building was designed says a lot about Australia\u2019s approach to education at the time. For example, its large classroom sizes were designed to accommodate the new influx of students, and small windows helped students to concentrate on their work (not gaze out at the view!). The gothic tower also gives it a serious, slightly religious flavour. Very different to schools of today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nMalvern Road frontage, showcasing the gothic tower in the top-left<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Joels purchasing the building was also interesting because it felt like a natural fit. Even then, they were well established and known for their appreciation of antiques and fine art \u2013 and it made sense that they had a physical space that reflected those values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was it a tricky process?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFunnily enough, it wasn\u2019t as hard as I might have anticipated! One thing that certainly helped was that the architect involved had an affinity for heritage buildings \u2013 he designed an extension that was very sympathetic to the existing building form. It also helped that the Joels didn\u2019t need to make wholesale changes to the existing building to make it work for them \u2013 for example, they weren\u2019t trying to change window patterns or add balconies. It was a good choice on the part of the Joels, in that they could reinvent it with a relatively light touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nReinvention with a light touch<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAs the planners, we were responsible for ensuring that the extension would be appropriate in its heritage context, and that it wouldn\u2019t have undue impact on neighbours. We also had to make sure that certain practical boxes were ticked, like provision for adequate parking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n“With a heritage conversion, the goal is to ensure the longevity of a building by giving it a useful future, and that\u2019s really what we aimed to do.<\/em>” \u2013 Amanda Ring<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter planning permission was granted, the former school was carefully modified and added to, and it has been the Melbourne showroom for Leonard Joel for almost three decades! A lot of these former schools have been turned into residential developments, so it was nice that this one retained a commercial use, and remains somewhere people can visit and gather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What strikes you now when you reflect on this development?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nI drive past the building regularly, and think that it remains a lovely, lasting example of a heritage building that\u2019s been given new life. The owners demonstrate their love for the building by taking good care of it \u2013 the gardens are beautifully maintained and signage is carefully attended to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell-maintained gardens and signage <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe planning process may have become more complex since we worked on this project, but I believe that the architectural strategy would still make sense today, and that\u2019s gratifying. Overall, it was a great project thirty years ago, and I hope it continues to provide a wonderful space for its owners for many years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Images courtesy of Amanda Ring<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Amanda Ring had only recently joined UPco (which was then SJB Planning), one of the first projects she worked on was the conversion of the old Hawksburn Primary School. This gothic beauty sits on Malvern Road in South Yarra, and today it\u2019s better known as the Leonard Joel Auction House. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"upco_global_settings":"","upco_interactions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Leonard Joel Auction House \u2013 UPco<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n