Heritage Cases

(1) Over the past few years, after the departure of the last tenant, the Warehouse and Office block have been neglected and have been vandalised on numerous occasions. The proposed additions and alterations will aim at attracting new tenants by providing suitable facilities whilst at the same time improving and adding value to the industrial area. (2) Over the years, additions and alterations were carried out to the Warehouse at different stages. Unfortunately, these have compromised the architectural integrity of the original building particularly the brick detailing on the Sydney Road elevation. Even though the Warehouse and Office block is not a listed building, the proposed additions and alterations aim at restoring part of the characteristics that play a meaningful role in the overall aesthetic that was originally designed. The overall intention is to maintain certain characteristics that form part of the history of the building even though the alterations include demolition work. (3) A portion of the existing office block is to be demolished to allow for a wider entrance access scoop that will ensure suitable articulation of freight transport vehicles. The proposed design of the Office block was very much limited to the existing structure however attention was given to the design of the elevations. The brick corbelled plinth detail and the concrete ledge have been carried through onto the proposed elevations of the Office block to maintain the strong horizontal lines, this is to achieve a similar architectural language created on the original building. (4) A new aluminium sun screen is proposed on the facades of the South East Elevation (Sydney Road) and the North East Elevation (driveway) of the Office block to provide shading to the offices on the First Floor. Another reason for introducing the aluminium sun screen is to conceal the original signage that was applied on the facebrick presently covered with a strip of steel cladding. The steel cladding is to be removed. (5) The existing building does not have an external designated loading/delivery yard, it was therefore necessary to introduce such area by way of demolishing a portion of the warehouse between Gridline 5 & 6 to accommodate an adequate articulation space for freight transport vehicles. (6) The proposed additions and alterations to the Office Block allows for the existing lantern roof that is on the roof slab level to be retained, hence ensuring that natural lighting is used as much as possible. The lantern roof will be reduced in length due to the demolition of part of the Office block. (7) The lantern roof on the first floor level of the Office Block will be removed however the opening forms part of the proposed new staircase/double volume area between Ground and First floor. (8) The roof and side cladding of the existing warehouse is asbestos. The proposed additions and alterations allow for the removal of all existing asbestos sheeting and cladding by an approved contractor and replacing them with aluminium roof sheeting and side cladding. (9) The proposed additions and alterations allow for the demolition of the existing transformer, meter room and Office block along the driveway (North East Elevation) to accommodate loading bays and adequate articulation space for freight transport vehicles. The current transformer will be relocated to the front of the premises for ease of access by the relevant authorities. (10) The existing covered external area on the North West corner of the property was used for transportation of goods via the railway lines. This facility is no longer required and as such the covered external area will be closed off and incorporated as Warehouse area to maximise Warehouse space. (11) The existing Office block and ablutions on the South West Elevation is to be demolished and incorporated as Warehouse area together with the open courtyard space.