Known for reinvigorating sites with interesting and dynamic designs, Sand Hill Road has once again teamed up with Techné Architects to revamp one of Melbourne’s first gastro pubs, the Prahran Hotel.
Sand Hill Road provided Techné Architects director Justin Northrop with two distinct design briefs; the first, to deliver a safe, achievable design and the second, to deliver something outlandish and never before seen in an Australian pub. The latter was given the green light, along with the condition that the end results should still keep true to the ideals of a local pub.
Today, the 750sqm pub is defined by its unique façade which is made up of 17 oversized concrete pipes stacked to the skyline. Providing people on the street-front with a glimpse of the hotel’s interior, the hollows of the pipes also double up as reserved booth seatings for two, six or 12 people.
Northrop notes that they were unable to find other projects that have attempted something as unusual as this. This added an element of complexity to the construction methodology, although one that was worthwhile to develop and not impossible to achieve.
Whilst keeping the pub’s exterior a key talking point was important, Techné was also focused on creating a design that centred around the public bar, or the ‘heart’ of the pub.
“The façade provided an opportunity for us to acknowledge the classic streamline features throughout the original pub but we were very conscious of not designing the pub around the façade. A pub’s success is determined by how it operates within, rather than how it looks on the outside,” says Northrop.
What sets the Prahran Hotel apart is the unique experience of being both inside and outside of the pub. The double glazed steel framed windows allow passersby to see easily into the venue and engage with the pub, but also allow patrons sitting within the façade to physically interact with the edifice itself as well as the people outside.
Matt Mullins of Sand Hill Road says that voyeurism is an essential ingredient to delivering a great venue. “A pub can be quite theatrical, a bit like a show and some people want to be in the show, others want to watch it. So parts of the Prahran Hotel are the stage where you’re at the centre of the action, while other parts are the stalls, where you can sit quietly, in intimacy, and watch the show go on around you.”
The revitalised Prahran Hotel also includes an outdoor courtyard adjacent to a five metre-long bar made from recycled coloured steel pipes and collapsible tables that give way to a dance floor on weekends. Located away from the adjacent residences, the courtyard is surrounded by a two storey tall structure to ensure that sound travels up through the building to minimise acoustic pollution.
Featuring three bars and a private function room and balcony, the Prahran Hotel can hold up to 420 patrons and is located at 82 High Street, Prahran VIC.
Photography by Peter Clarke.
