Aerial South Wharf Event Venue for Food & Desire by MEME // Melbourne, Australia.

Oh boy! Have the clever ladies from MEME nailed it with this one, or what? Killer job. AERIAL is a destination hospitality events venue, designed for Food and Desire, one of Melbourne‘s leading event specialists. Situated at South Wharf, it is a large-capacity offer overlooking the Yarra with panoramic city views. The overall planning and programming was an exercise in maximising space and pre-empting multiple function types and layouts.

The site was inherited as a half constructed concrete shell with structural and acoustic constraints. To be completed in ten months, the project required rigorous co-ordination of interior and architectural design. Consideration was required to both front and back of house, to cater for up to 1,000 guests. The overall concept needed to be robust, utilitarian although still finely detailed and an elegant attraction.

Ground arrival is a voluminous 7m tall space, with cast stair that ascends to an expansive 700m2 arrival hall, bar and flexible function space. Spatial drama was created through an atmospheric arrival space at ground level with the stair acting as the focal point, drawing guests up to the main function space. A five metre drop of the silver curtain and Bec Brittain pendant delicately complete this entrance.

Ascending the staircase announces the voluminous cocktail hall, activated by a striking reflective finish and floor-to-ceiling pleated walls. Elegant drapes softly partition and obscure the vast space. When opened, the room opens out across marble floors and captivating sky-high city views. The First floor grand holding room is flanked with concrete pleated walls, four meter high moveable gold curtains, which control and reveal spaces and views. Once opened, the space is broadened by the expansive glazing and sliders that open out offering unexpected inside balconies. The existing central lift is intentionally clad in bevel edged mirror to reflect changeable colours in light, texture and the intended mood.

During the course of this project, interior designers Melanie Beynon & Megan Hounslow were challenged on every level for performance and cost, be it a material or a detail. All elements were reviewed and alternatives were submitted by the designer to the project management team and client for approval.

“We were required to rigorously review the design concept and performance constantly. The challenge we faced was to implement an elegant design, which was durable enough to withstand the maximum expected wear and tear without impact on the finish. The floor had to be resistant enough to withstand broken glass, AV equipment and furniture movement. The corners of the walls and columns also required protection, here a metal angle was used. The walls need to be washable and resistant to scuffing. We worked as a co-operative: management, client & designer team had to make intelligent, efficient decisions that had to stand the test of time and the venue, as it will be up to 10 years before any major changes will be considered.”

It is no small feat to design an institutional interior and make it look this interesting, sexy and sophisticated. Hats off MEME. You totally nailed it.

[Images courtesy of MEME. Photography by Tom Blachford.]