This Launceston accommodation project involved major interior alterations to a three storey flour mill first constructed in the 1830s. Seven luxury suites now join the existing Stillwater restaurant, replacing spaces formerly used as a providore, gallery and hairdresser within the upper floors of the mill.
As the survivor of a major structural fire and almost two centuries of wild elements, the design expresses the building’s journey through time. Weathered corrugated iron, heritage sandstone and giant oregon trusses are highlighted and enhanced throughout the redefined interior. Flickers of the site’s past continue from the retained elements to the new, with a rich interior palette of raw timbers and deep colour.
Although perhaps appearing as a design constraint, the charred, weathered elements of the building have promoted significant innovation. This design exploration delved into the post-fire regeneration of the Australian bush, known for producing a gallery of colourful new plant life. As if rising from ashes, rich reds and greens are matched with steel thresholds, burnt timbers and textured paintwork throughout the interior. Just as the bush regenerates, so too has Stillwater, transforming and taking on a new life.