11 Oct 2012

TBB's New Office Opens in Grand Style

After enduring many months of working in a construction zone, we're thrilled the new Taylor Burrell Barnett office additions are finally complete.

The opening of our new building was recently celebrated in style, with a cocktail party attended by over one hundred staff, clients and special friends.

The Hon John Day - Minister for Planning; Culture and the Arts; Science and Innovation - officially opened the building and Heather Henderson, Mayor of Subiaco addressed the guests.

Minister Day spoke of Taylor Burrell Barnett's long standing reputation and integrity in the planning community and congratulated the company on its latest achievement.

Mayor Henderson spoke highly of the quality of the design, describing it as an “example of contemporary heritage design”, something which TBB worked hard to achieve. Lex Barnett, Managing Director of TBB explains: “TBB takes great pride in the history and character of our heritage Headquarters building; so it was important to us that any redevelopment was respectful of its heritage context. Equally though, we wanted our new building to say something about our creative side. Our headquarters speaks of our regard for traditionalism, so the new premises is an expression of our creativity, our love of the contemporary and our belief that whilst the future should take lessons from the past, it should not try to recreate it.”

Architects Zuideveld Marchant Hur were commissioned to take on the design challenge. The resulting new building adds about 400m2 of floorspace over two storeys to TBB’s offices; keeping the front half of the original cottage intact. The new building takes the form of a simple slender rectangular shape that shows due respect to the scale, form and setback lines of the existing buildings. The internal transition from the old to the new is obvious but free flowing, and the upper level features a large vaulted space, awash with natural light and ventilation.

“We think the design has very successfully met the challenge of marrying a strong contemporary building design with the more genteel style of the bygone era. The result is an elegant example of how solid, modern design can harmonise with heritage and traditional urbanism,” says Lex.

TBB’s original headquarters building, adjoining the new building, will remain the formal entrance for visitors and will continue to function as an integral part of the business operation.

Photos of the New Building and Opening Cocktail Party

Click the thumbnails below to view full sized images.

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