Opening in 2012, The Grounds of Alexandria has rapidly become a landmark within the community. Already housing a popular café, roaster, bakery and garden, there was a natural evolution to amalgamate the adjoining site; once the home of the James Byrnes linseed oil mills, established in 1918.

The client saw an opportunity to capture the patron and further develop the character of The Grounds. The brief was to create a distinctive space to gather and celebrate that would sit harmoniously within the site. A defined concept was established through the spatial plan where individual offerings, sitting within a larger scheme were created throughout the venue.

Working closely with the client, a holistic design approach has been established, which not only encompasses the architecture and interiors but also articulates the strength of The Grounds brand.

In response to examination and engagement with the community, different spatial experiences have been created to bring people together. The resulting offerings unfold as ‘The Potting Shed’, designed as a place to meet where honest ingredients meet hungry mouths, a place to be fed and watered; ‘The Propagation Room and Florist’, where plants are nurtured and grown; ‘The Atrium’, a Parisian-inspired space filled with natural light, greenery and rustic furnishings, designed to service a growing roster of weddings; and ‘The Lock In’, a liquor den for private events.

The Potting Shed is a project of adaptive reuse. The challenge posed was to address the previous tenant’s renovations, which were unsympathetic and neglected the existing heritage fabric. With a conservative budget and time constraints, it was paramount to reinstate the historical integrity of the building and pay homage to its past.

Through sustainable practice, existing structures and recycled materials were reinterpreted and layered to create a nostalgic garden setting. Hanging plants, terracotta pots and timber beams meet brass, brick and iron, framing the significant historical context of the site within its contemporary program.

Sitting within the rambling nostalgia, the unique spatial offering is palpable within the tactile elements of the customer experience. Thorough historical analysis, spatial and programmatic layering, sensitive activation and greening of the site, the historical significance has been successfully reinstated within the contemporary design.

The project challenges the hospitality industry, pushing the existing boundaries. The responsive evolution acknowledges the community, transporting it to its maximum potential and reasserting The Grounds position as one of Sydney’s pioneering destinations.