THE APO

The design rationale draws upon the history and the era of the building, namely 1862. The existing characteristics were significant and key to keeping the building authentic. This commanded a greater importance on materials and texture, limiting the palette to also pay homage to the materials of the era. The use of stone, various timbers, concrete, and hints of brass were meticulously integrated to balance the old and new.

To complement the buildings archaeology all design elements were floated off the existing walls. This points to a clear outcome of detaching the old and the new, a clear separation of surfaces, volumes, and structures. All internal elements such as the ceiling, toilet block, bottle displays, and the marble skinned wall all sit in front of the English bond laid brick walls, creating volumes within the volume.