THE CLAREMONT
2022
‘This stacked garden approach expresses the layered nature of the office type, using large concrete edges and perimeter planting to emphasize each level.’
The redevelopment of 189 Toorak Road balances the historical character of the Claremont Hotel with a new office tower above. By prioritizing the retention of the original masonry facade, the project maintains the building’s established presence on the South Yarra streetscape. Internally, the design preserves the existing timber staircase and central atrium alongside the original skylights, ensuring that the natural light and vertical circulation of the 19th-century structure remain core features of the layout.
Above the heritage base, the addition consists of a series of suspended concrete planes, each defined by a planted green edge. This stacked garden approach expresses the layered nature of the office type, using large concrete edges and perimeter planting to emphasize each level.
As the structure rises, the upper floors gradually terrace back from the street, allowing each office floor plate to feature its own private outdoor balcony. By providing these open terraced spaces, the design ensures a clear connection to the outdoors for every level, resulting in a building that is grounded in its history and adaptable for shifting modes of work.
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MIXED USE | OFFICE
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CONCEPT
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WURUNDJERI | CLAREMONT HOTEL | SOUTH YARRA