Transformer in Fitzroy by Breathe Architecture

Transformer in Fitzroy by Breathe Architecture is Melbourne-studio’s latest hospitality project. The site, vacant for many years, was formerly an electrical transformer factory. The existing building has layers of character from its past, including a small courtyard tucked behind the warehouse covered in ivy, which became key to the design concept – to extend the experience of the garden inside.

There are two defining elements to the design: The Garden + The Shed. Low height concrete planter boxes create “plots” of intimate dining spaces. The bold timber clad shed nestled under the existing pitched roof, holds the back of house “tools” of the restaurant. Texture and low-tech simplicity is key to making the new design sit humbly within the existing building. The material palette is a collection of honest materials, common to the garden. In-situ concrete, recycled timber, mild steel, cyclone wire, raw brass fixtures, cement sheet, outdoor fabrics and an abundance of plants come together to transform the space.

Transformer is an exercise in building more with less. It takes the ‘long life, loose fit’ approach. The aim was to maximise flexibility and longevity of the space by preserving as much of the existing structure and texture as possible and to then add the kitchen and back of house as one simple, elegant built element into the space.

Breathe added a simple palette of raw, local and natural materials referencing the idea behind the vegetarian menu at Transformer; fresh, raw & natural. These materials include recycled timber battens to enclose the kitchen, recycled messmate table tops from the old Geelong station, mild steel door frames & joinery, locally manufactured brass door furniture and tap ware, cyclone wire planting screens, and exposed cement sheet linings in bathrooms in lieu of tiles.

“Finally, we let the plants run wild, occupying the space with verdant, fresh greenery,” explain the architects.