Reimagining a Legal Practice Within Australian Arcade
Project at a Glance Heritage Advisor: John Oultram Surveyor: TJ Hinchcliffe & Associates Photographer: Cut Above Productions
This completed project involved an interior refurbishment for a professional practice located within the Australian Arcade.
A key component of the works included the replacement of the original shopfront with a new black-framed glazed system. Select areas of glazing were treated with opaque frosting to enhance privacy while maintaining natural light and visual continuity. The design brief called for a contemporary industrial aesthetic, achieved through a considered palette of distressed timber, black laminates, and white Essastone surfaces.
The project also involved the conversion of an existing unoccupied tenancy into an expanded legal practice. The scope included significant demolition of the original interior, followed by a new spatial layout comprising an administration area, corridor, and three private offices. Works included the installation of lightweight partitions, new floor finishes, painting, and upgraded fixtures and fittings. The interior design was carefully coordinated to align with existing elements, creating a cohesive and unified overall environment.
The resulting aesthetic is contemporary and restrained, defined by clean lines and a refined material palette of matte black joinery, white walls, and charcoal graphic carpet.
Externally, the tenancy features black aluminium-framed windows with clear and frosted glazing panels, complementing the existing architectural language. New signage was installed along the Fitzmaurice Street façade, and the existing street-facing piers were re-tiled to refresh and modernise the building’s external presentation.
Special thanks to Grant from Cut Above Productions for capturing the completed project through his photography.
“GPG Architecture were engaged to design the office fit out for our new law firm. Gioia & her team were very professional & did their best to meet our expectations of timing & design. They provided us with great ideas to achieve the overall look & feel we were after, this included Gioia helping us with material selection at the various building supply shops. We are now in our new office and love the results. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend GPG for your next professional design project.” - Zac Tankard: Client