The End to End building is the latest in a series of street culture inspired buildings by ITN Architects, it is the sequel to the well known Hive Graffiti Apartments. The building is comprised of a six-pack of new five storey commercial tenancies each with an elevator, decks and car spaces. It is impressively crowned by three recently retired, renovated Hitachi Met trains with panoramic views of Collingwood and beyond.
The site is opportunely just slightly longer than the measure of a train carriage. The building structure relies on bridge technology in order to support each 27 ton carriage, the considerable point load has been spread by casting rail track into the upper slab. Innovation was required in many aspects of construction not the least customised lift shafts that allow elevators to serve the uppermost train levels.
The environmental initiative of up-cycling the scrapped train cars is complemented by on-site water harvesting, solar hot water, thermal mass engineering and passive solar design. The didactic strength of this building as an icon of re-use is intended to inspire others to try their hand.
Rolling Stock nostalgia appears at street level in artisan crafted railway track doors, a concrete sleeper canopy and train station platform facade panels. The carriages offer panoramic views from within and serve as an iconic canvas for graffiti artists to make their mark.
The End to End complex presents as one building only to reveal subsets of buildings, tenancies and rooms hosting bars, restaurants, offices & studio spaces all celebrating on high the classic Hitachi M Class train.
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