We faced a 1921 Art Deco office building wrapped in heritage significance, pressed against the Immigration Museum’s Tribute Garden. The challenge centred on light: how to introduce it generously into a structure defined by heavy masonry and modest openings, whilst honouring the muscular presence of the original building. At the same time, the client aspired to increase the building’s net lettable area — a practical ambition that demanded thoughtful spatial expansion rather than simple addition. We saw the opportunity in the building’s eastern cut-out, a perfect place to insert something transparent and alive. Our vision was to create a dialogue between eras, letting natural light and new floor space reshape how people experience this historic structure.

We designed a recessed glass extension that borrows its rhythm from the existing fenestration and the geometric patterns of the Tribute Garden wall. This glazed element sits back from the street, visible only at angles, respecting the palazzo form whilst flooding interiors with natural light. We replanned the building services entirely, relocating amenities to create a front atrium—a structural breath between old and new. The result is an office building that feels open on all sides, with high ceilings and a ground floor arrival that connects meaningfully to Flinders Lane’s urban fabric. A new fire escape improves safety; state-of-the-art end-of-trip facilities reflect how people work today.