The brief was to convert a disused rail line into a publicly accessible contemporary restaurant and bar venue that would contribute positively to the local residents and the tourist experience of Melbourne.
The design response is a contemporary yet sensitive development sited in between the Yarra River and Flinders Street Railway Station on a sliver of land, now known as North Bank. The adoption of a pre-fabricated ‘kit of parts’ construction methodology ensured cost and on-site construction efficiencies were maximised. Refined timber lined bars at each end of Arbory create a sense of enclosure while the gently rising and meandering entry path maintains a connection with the landscape with a sense of journey and
delight from Flinders Walk.
Raised above the ground for prospect and view, patrons sit among a canopy of mature Plane trees. At night the white polycarbonate buildings are illuminated, providing a glowing backdrop from which patrons can enjoy, and also contribute to, the dynamic amenity of the Yarra River and its surrounds.