Leading building services company ICS Australia worked with Wesbeam, Australia’s leading manufacturer of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) to deliver the entire timber framework for the Jetty Bar & Eats project in Fremantle, Western Australia in a single day. Located at East Street Jetty, the riverside venue is the latest project from hospitality veteran Miles Hull’s Dark Horse Hospitality Group.
Considered the first build of its kind in Western Australia, ICS Australia set out to complete the entire timber structure for the waterfront bar in a single day, delivering the framework made from sustainable, locally grown timber within hours.
According to ICS Australia director Craig Peterson, the building site had a similar style timber building, with timber-framed, steel-clad buildings historically being part of Fremantle’s construction landscape. Executing the project using modern-day timber technology represented an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to the neighbourhood.
With the timber construction industry moving towards off-site manufactured timber, ICS Australia chose to work with leading LVL manufacturer Wesbeam to deliver the bar project. The cladding and internal fit-out would follow the timber frame construction.
Wesbeam state manager Tim Mapstone explained that the use of prefabricated LVL timber portal frames for the build ensured that the structure would not only be highly sustainable but also deliver passive design energy efficiencies to the building.
Having worked with Wesbeam for years on several projects, Peterson considers their sustainably-managed, locally sourced timber as one of the most environment-friendly building materials available. The East Street Jetty bar’s timber structure was erected first, using 18 cubic metres of sustainable timber from Wesbeam. He added that the timber build would result in a carbon offset of 9.8 tonnes, making it one of the region’s most sustainably-designed and built venues.
Designed by award-winning Fremantle architect Michael Patroni of spaceagency, Jetty Bar & Eats is a single-storey, 120-person venue along the Swan River with views on all sides. While Patroni’s design emphasises the site’s north-facing aspect as well as its industrial aesthetic, Kate Archibald Design Office will provide a sympathetic interior fit-out to the building that pays homage to Fremantle’s waterside and multicultural history. A 10-metre-long bar and kitchen form the heart of the venue with outdoor tables offering alfresco dining opportunities to patrons – louvered windows are integrated to create an excellent inside-outside flow.
Peterson views the completion of the timber framework in a single day as a significant achievement and expects the bar to become a popular venue within the local community. While the timber-framed venue highlights the advantages of passive design and sustainable materials, being part of building on Fremantle’s thriving hospitality scene and delivering a Perth first are an added bonus for the ICS Australia team.
Jetty Bar & Eats is on track to open in June 2021.
Photographers: Kai Ridley and Amanda Miller
