Previously known as Pier 26, the objective behind the Helm was to improve the profitability of the business by giving the bar a $2 million face-lift and improve functioning through a series of strategies, including repositioning of the bar to take advantage of the water aspect.
The driving principal for the design was efficiency, which was deemed to be the crucial factor in the venue making a profit, so every detail, right down to where the glasses are stored, was considered in terms of time and motion efficiencies.
The most cost effective way to complete the renovation was to completely shut the venue down for 12 weeks. On other projects, work would have been staged to maintain revenue generation.
"Despite being a small project, it proved to be quite demanding because of the detailing," Steve Williams says, project leader at the Helm. "The most innovative aspect of this project was the roofing system, which was designed to meet smoking regulations. It includes a low-height, fixed timber batten structure and waterproof louvres which can be manipulated to provide 60 per cent to 40 per cent open to close ratio to comply with smoking legislation now and in the future."
Architect Tony Legge and interior designer Geoff Patterson were also involved with the project.
