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Fairlie Wellness Centre
Fairlie Wellness Centre
Melbourne, Australia
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Other Projects by Wood Marsh
Fairlie Wellness Centre
Melbourne, Australia
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2026
SIZE
0 sqft - 1000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
This project is a ground-level adaptive reuse intervention within Fairlie, one of Melbourne’s earliest and most architecturally significant high-rise residential buildings. Completed in 1961 by Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths & Simpson, Fairlie is heritage-listed and celebrated for its modernist expression, including prefabricated concrete frames, a non-loadbearing curtain wall system and distinctive arched pilotis that create a floating base. Defined by minimalist principles and refined detailing, the building’s cultural significance required a sensitive and considered architectural approach.
The commission focused on reactivating a long-vacant former caretaker’s apartment that had fallen into significant disrepair. The aim was to introduce a new collective amenity that would bring value back to the building and its residents, while remaining deeply respectful of Fairlie’s architectural legacy. The resulting program is a boutique wellness centre, accessed directly from the foyer and opening onto a private courtyard, enhancing both resident wellbeing and the everyday experience of the building’s shared spaces.
The guiding philosophy was to work with the existing fabric, allowing the intervention to feel quietly embedded rather than overtly contrasted. Drawing on the modernist ideals underpinning the original design, the project embraces calm, restraint and material honesty, creating a subtle dialogue between old and new. A restrained palette of custom terrazzo, pale European oak veneer, off-white surfaces and natural brass detailing establishes a serene and timeless interior.
A bespoke terrazzo mix was developed in close reference to the original terrazzo found throughout the lobby and common areas. Rather than replicating it exactly, the new terrazzo is intentionally “elegantly similar,” distinguished through a honed finish in contrast to the original polished surface. This nuanced approach acknowledges the heritage fabric while clearly identifying the intervention as contemporary. The terrazzo extends across floors, skirtings, column cladding, shower trays and bespoke joinery elements, creating a cohesive and materially unified space.
The layout is resolved with clarity and efficiency. A central open space accommodates wellness and training functions, supported by discreetly integrated amenities and a kitchenette wrapped in oak veneer that seamlessly connects walls and ceiling. Natural brass accents, including floor trims and Arne Jacobsen door hardware contemporaneous with the building, further extend the heritage narrative through crafted detail.
Consultant collaboration was critical to the project’s success. Structural engineering enabled the insertion of a generous skylight through the existing concrete slab, flooding the interior with natural light, while mechanical systems were carefully integrated to preserve the architectural intent. Externally, the courtyard retains its original brick backdrop and mature camellia tree, anchored by a monolithic terrazzo bench.
Through adaptive reuse, durable detailing and enhanced daylighting, the project balances cost, longevity and sustainability. Despite its modest scale, the intervention demonstrates how thoughtful, respectful design can meaningfully enrich heritage architecture and contemporary communal life.
The commission focused on reactivating a long-vacant former caretaker’s apartment that had fallen into significant disrepair. The aim was to introduce a new collective amenity that would bring value back to the building and its residents, while remaining deeply respectful of Fairlie’s architectural legacy. The resulting program is a boutique wellness centre, accessed directly from the foyer and opening onto a private courtyard, enhancing both resident wellbeing and the everyday experience of the building’s shared spaces.
The guiding philosophy was to work with the existing fabric, allowing the intervention to feel quietly embedded rather than overtly contrasted. Drawing on the modernist ideals underpinning the original design, the project embraces calm, restraint and material honesty, creating a subtle dialogue between old and new. A restrained palette of custom terrazzo, pale European oak veneer, off-white surfaces and natural brass detailing establishes a serene and timeless interior.
A bespoke terrazzo mix was developed in close reference to the original terrazzo found throughout the lobby and common areas. Rather than replicating it exactly, the new terrazzo is intentionally “elegantly similar,” distinguished through a honed finish in contrast to the original polished surface. This nuanced approach acknowledges the heritage fabric while clearly identifying the intervention as contemporary. The terrazzo extends across floors, skirtings, column cladding, shower trays and bespoke joinery elements, creating a cohesive and materially unified space.
The layout is resolved with clarity and efficiency. A central open space accommodates wellness and training functions, supported by discreetly integrated amenities and a kitchenette wrapped in oak veneer that seamlessly connects walls and ceiling. Natural brass accents, including floor trims and Arne Jacobsen door hardware contemporaneous with the building, further extend the heritage narrative through crafted detail.
Consultant collaboration was critical to the project’s success. Structural engineering enabled the insertion of a generous skylight through the existing concrete slab, flooding the interior with natural light, while mechanical systems were carefully integrated to preserve the architectural intent. Externally, the courtyard retains its original brick backdrop and mature camellia tree, anchored by a monolithic terrazzo bench.
Through adaptive reuse, durable detailing and enhanced daylighting, the project balances cost, longevity and sustainability. Despite its modest scale, the intervention demonstrates how thoughtful, respectful design can meaningfully enrich heritage architecture and contemporary communal life.
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