19mm Custom Balustrade: King Street, Perth
The fully bespoke glass balustrade system at 44 King St in Perth delivers a commanding sense of scale. Massive 19mm glass panels up to 260kg per piece span the staircase like giant glass origami, at points reaching over head height.
Following a philosophy of simple, honest expression of material and finish, Space Agency have transformed the first floor of 44 King St into an superbly finished space, fit for a hipster internet startup from Portland. The refreshingly clean and light re-fit hinges around a simple colour and textural palette, raw materials and extensive use of architectural glass to achieve a sense of space that exposes as far as possible the original brick walls.
The final outcome, which achieved a commendation in the small projects category and a shortlisting fort he Mondoluce Lighting award, is space that combines the clean, minimal lines provided by glass together with raw steel in a timeless industrial finish.
A visually commanding entrance feature, the glass balustrade boasts oversize, custom shaped 19mm glass panels fixed to a raw steel stringer and handrail, with the largest panel topping out at 1900mm and weighing over 250kg.
"The new staircase and glass elevator provide universal access from the street to the first floor tenancy, and are inserted into the old warehouse building with a clear delineation between old and new"
TOBIAS BUSCH
Project Architect
“The project re-introduces a state heritage listed space to King St that had previously been disconnected, where possible, we have retained and exposed historic fabric and detail to express continuity of past, present and future. We worked closely with our consultant team and Cooling Brothers in order to achieve both pragmatic and poetic outcomes”
TOBIAS BUSCH
Project Architect, Space Agency