SPRING BAY MILL, BANKSIA ROOM
Shortlisted AIDA Australian Interior Design Awards 2021 : Public Design
Shortlisted IDEA Interior Design Excellence Awards 2021 : Public Space
Project: Multipurpose Venue
Photographer: Samuel Shelley
Architect: Gilby + Brewin Architecture
Creative collaborator: Laura McCusker Furniture Designer & Maker
Brand: Futago
The Spring Bay Mill event spaces are part of the ongoing 40 ha site-wide regeneration of what was the world’s largest wood chipping facility into a cultural, environment focused events venue. The Banksia Room is the main heart, functioning as site reception, multipurpose hospitality and function space, bar, lounge and private meeting room.
The Banksia Room interior was developed through a close listening and response to the site and client brief. The design intent was to create spaces in harmony with the natural environment, which echoed the materiality of the site, its history and ongoing story. A rebirthing from its industrial heritage into a place of community and connection, with an ethos of mindfulness, reuse and rejuvenation.
Original items found on site where repurposed into new iterations. Drawing inspiration equally from the striking natural landscape and the site’s deteriorating industrial buildings, colours and textures were harnessed as dialogue and inspiration for the materials palette, along with the principles of biophilic design.
The desire was to create spaces which feel welcoming and inclusive, with a sense of coming home. Textured and layered and deeply grounded in its environment, human-centric, humble and authentic.
The interior design of the Banksia Room looks far beyond simply the furnishing and dressing of spaces in a pragmatic sense, but more so, views it as an invaluable tool of communication. With emphasis on interweaving strong visual connections and storytelling into the design. The outcome being one that is deeply connected to place.
