The adaptation is designed with a duality in mind – how to celebrate the imposing, austere qualities of the former Police Station building, whilst activating adjacent public space and providing internal opportunities for new tenants and users alike.

Welsh + Major’s approach was to design contemporary interventions, carefully placing new within the old. These inserted elements are symbols of the building’s new use and openness, and enhance physical access to the building.

A finely detailed steel and glass structure inserted between existing brick and sandstone walls creates a convivial porch dining area, and transforms the adjacent laneway. The new entry on Nurses Walk formed from fine steel blades cleverly accommodates services and also provides an equitable access solution for the building. These contemporary elements have a quality of material and detailing to highlight and sit lightly against the existing building fabric. Steel, brass and glass are detailed to be both robust and refined, reflecting the qualities of the heritage building, whilst opening it up to new possibilities.

A full commercial kitchen box floats between the old courtyard walls – conceived and detailed as a removable element, it allows the original building fabric to breathe. Floating brass framed ceiling baffles within the former cells hide the services while creating a visually and acoustically convivial dining spaces. Toilet facilities are neatly accommodated within a single cell while retaining the spatial qualities of the original room.

Brass elements throughout the building improve access, lighting and acoustics, and provide discrete junctions between old and new elements.