Richmond Industrial Warehouse Renovation

Reviving an Industrial Warehouse: A Dialogue Between Past and Present

There is a deep sense of satisfaction in seeing a 1960s industrial warehouse reimagined into something new without losing its raw spirit. Warehouse conversions often follow a predictable pattern: gut the interior, whiten everything, add a few Edison bulbs, and label it as industrial chic.

However, Zen Architects took a different approach in their Richmond project, where the outcome felt less like social refinement and more like an intelligent dialogue between past and present. The project brief was clear, but its execution required restraint, a quality that has become rare in Australian residential architecture today.

Site Challenges and Decision-Making

The project sits on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, and decision-making options were complex from the outset. For instance:

Should the existing building structure be retained, or should it be demolished and rebuilt?
Should the harsh concrete slab be removed, or should it remain?

Within these constraints, Truewood Constructions worked under limited site access, which effectively forced the team to make wiser and more sustainable decisions.

Adaptive Reuse and Sustainability

When demolishing and relocating a concrete floor becomes difficult, serious consideration is given to embodied energy and the building’s life-cycle assessment. In this project, both the slab and steel structure were retained, and even the original sprinkler pipes and lighting fixtures were reused.

In this way, the project stands as a living example of adaptive reuse that respects the past while embracing the present, without apologizing for the existing elements.

Interior design and architectural transformation of an industrial warehouse with indoor courtyard, floating mezzanines, sustainable materials, and practical furniture layout

Harnessing Natural Light and Ventilation

The spatial solutions in the project focus on a north-facing courtyard that penetrates what was originally a box lacking natural light. This internal garden plays a key thermal role, allowing winter sunlight to reach deep into the plan, while the newly installed high-level louvers facilitate cross-ventilation.

The original warehouse orientations were very weak, with the building facing south and featuring few usable windows, making it difficult to capitalize on natural light and ventilation. Rather than resisting the envelope, a microclimate was designed internally to enhance thermal performance and create a comfortable environment within the warehouse.

Interior Design That Preserves the Original Spirit

The floating mezzanine rooms sit within the original volume as if they were furniture, maintaining the cathedral ceiling while providing actual bedrooms. The exposed steel bridge system reads as a clean structure, painted dark to appear less visually prominent, while the translucent ceiling panels filter daylight throughout the frame.

In this way, the design represents a sectional move that respects the building’s “bones” while completely reorganizing its interior, creating a balance between preserving the warehouse’s original spirit and achieving contemporary functionality.

Spatial Division and Material Contrast

What makes this design successful spatially is the elevated wooden surface that penetrates the concrete floor level. In the lower part of the warehouse, living areas sit on polished concrete, while dining and circulation areas occupy the warm wooden surface.

At the same time, the internal courtyard becomes an intermediate space that belongs to everything yet to nothing specific, enhancing the sense of flexibility and openness within the plan.

Plants as a Functional and Aesthetic Element

The movable circular planters, including the lime-green cylinder on wheels, add a dynamic touch to the space. The planting strategy integrates small trees with ferns and tropical plants, creating sufficient greenery for visitors to feel that the courtyard is an actual garden, not merely a decorative element.

Sightlines and Visual Connectivity

The double-height volume and layered transparency help create extended sightlines between different areas, from the living room to the mezzanine rooms, while maintaining privacy. Emma Cross’s photography captures these dynamics, illustrating how the space can feel open and visually connected without compromising personal comfort.

Color Palette and Materials: Restraint in Design

The interior color palette embodies restraint and moderation in the use of visual elements. Dark blue kitchen cabinets are paired with a yellow backsplash as a focal point, natural plywood is used for the mezzanine rooms, while polished concrete floors cover all other areas, creating a balance between warmth and solidity.

Lighting: Variety Without Excess

The design relies on a diverse mix of lighting, including industrial green enamel pendant lamps, colored glass spheres above the dining table, and black track fixtures on the exposed structure. Clearly, the project avoids ornate chandeliers or overly coordinated fixtures often seen on Pinterest, focusing instead on functionality and simplicity.

Furniture and Texture: Bringing the Space to Life

The furniture feels varied without being overly curated, including:

A rustic wooden dining table with a strong character
A sectional black sofa
Some mid-century modern pieces
Kilim rugs that add a warm texture

This arrangement reflects a sense of lived-in realism, sparking interest and analysis in architectural photography, where practical authenticity is valued over costly perfection.

Sustainability Integrated into Design

The sustainability aspect plays a pivotal role in this project, even if Zen Architects did not loudly proclaim it. The existing concrete slab represents thousands of kilograms of embodied carbon that remained in place, while the reused roofs, cladding, and original fixtures contribute significantly to reducing material waste that might otherwise end up in landfills.

Passive Heating and Cooling

High-level louvers and the north-facing courtyard provide passive heating and cooling, significantly reducing the loads on mechanical systems. In this way, the project stands as an example of sustainable architecture that does not rely on solar panels to prove its credentials.

Environmental Performance Embedded in Planning

Environmental performance is embedded in planning decisions, material reuse, and the thermal mass of the concrete floor, which absorbs winter sunlight and gradually releases it throughout the night. The project demonstrates that thoughtful design and environmental responsibility can coexist harmoniously, without the need for presentations or marketing slogans about “greenwashing.”

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Richmond Industrial Warehouse project demonstrates a clear creativity in handling the existing building and material reuse, combined with a thoughtful integration of natural light and ventilation, and a smart distribution of interior spaces. The multifunctional courtyard and carefully selected materials show attention to daily comfort and sustainability.

However, some design decisions, such as the wide variety of furniture and the lack of overall visual cohesion, can create a sense of dissonance in certain areas. Additionally, some contemporary interventions occasionally challenge the balance between the building’s original spirit and contemporary renewal.

Overall, the project leaves the impression of an intriguing architectural experiment, not perfect, but with clear room for improvement in integrating new elements more harmoniously.