Studio 33 is a small scale commercial project which presented the Architects a personal challenge as they are effectively also the Client. Studio 33 was acquired by a joint venture of 5 “mates” who all wished to have a small office at Palm Beach.

 

The Palm Beach LAP permitted the establishment of an office development within the Residential / Commercial Precinct. The site is just 250m from the beachfront and immediately adjacent the existing commercial area of Palm Beach.  The Architects decided to design the project within the “self – assessable” provisions of the Planning Scheme to avoid the time loss to public advertising and approval processes.

 

The built form comprises two separate 2-storey buildings of predominantly lightweight construction utilising generous landscaped boundary setbacks to the adjoining residences.  The scale of the design melds with the residential neighbourhood and utilises residential materials in a way which permits the designers’ skills to include several elements which take the eye and present a sharp, colourful, presence in the streetscape.

 

Developing the property in line with the Planning Scheme vision for the future of the area was the first step towards the long term desired outcomes for this city block and has indicated to all that maximizing a site potential within the Planning Scheme need not result in building every square metre of allowable floor space and resultant carparking. A big effort in the design process was to balance the floor space with the carparking and avoid the construction of a basement, leaving less of an impact on the environment.

 

In the provision of the 5 tenancies the floor space was divided up according to the needs of each partner. The front building comprises two 2-storey tenancies whilst the rear building comprises a ground floor office and common toilets under the 2 offices above. Car parking is off a central driveway and are all covered.

 

Functional performance has been met with partners all happy with the outcome. The building program was relatively short as the footprint was limited to 2 levels.  The Studio 33 construction budget was maintained and together with the land acquisition the project was an economic success.