Finish Line Apartments – Castray Esplanade
Nestled at the edge of Hobart’s bustling waterfront, ‘The Finish Line’ luxury apartments emerges as a refined blend of heritage and modern luxury, creating a narrative of Hobart’s past, present, and future. Seamlessly woven into the fabric of Castray Esplanade, and looking out across the ending of the famed Sydney to Hobart yacht race, ‘The Finish Line’ encapsulates a blend of heritage preservation with modern architectural innovation.
The original building had been constructed more than 100 years ago, operating as a fruit processing facility for the Huon Juice Company before transforming through very different applications, including office space most recently. After a long and varied life, Fairbrother’s team was tasked with transforming it into a modern marvel without erasing the rich industrial heritage.
“There was no documentation at all on the existing building anywhere. Consultants had minimal records of the existing structure, so we had no idea what was behind any of the fabric. Our first task, therefore, was to strip the building back to its bare bones and see what we were working with,” explained Darryn Purcell, Project Manager for Fairbrother.
The process of renovation, therefore, required meticulous planning and execution. A significant challenge was the consideration of the existing, and unpredictable nature of the building, while integrating the client’s needs and intent for a high-end finish. The demolition process, while preserving the exterior façade, became an engineering feat. The external walls, standing tall at eight meters, were supported by Slimshor props, and closely monitored to ensure minimal movement.
“There were survey points along the walls, and we ended up with a maximum of four millimetres of movement, through the whole demolition and construction phase, so that was exceptional.” said Darryn, acknowledging the excellence of the team who worked on the project.
‘The Finish Line’ is home to four residential apartments, a level of offices, and car parking facilities, each reflecting a blend of industrial charm and modern luxury. The ground floor car park caters to the residential spaces, each equipped with high-speed electric car chargers. The residential apartments are crafted for both long-term use and short-term luxury living, with the latter featuring a standout cantilevered pool on the third floor. This architectural marvel, suspended eight meters above the ground and boasting a glass window at its end, offers a unique vantage point overlooking the Derwent River.
“The biggest challenge to the pool was detailing the waterproofing,” said Darryn. “Bounding two separate residential areas, and an office area, the solution was critical. This resulted in a project-specific specification be pulled together from the manufacturer. We then had a rigid process for monitoring the waterproofing install, including a fill test before we started tiling to verify that it wasn’t going to leak.”
Also of note in this project are the feature bricks used for their unique contribution to the building’s aesthetic and historical narrative. These bricks, sourced from a specific clay quarry in Spain, underwent a meticulous glazing process in Italy, ensuring no two bricks were the same colour. The choice of these bricks, designed to emulate the ripples of the ocean, not only enhances the nautical theme of ‘The Finish Line’ but also serves as a nod to the building’s maritime location and the significance of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
“There is no other brick in the world that will that looks like those on this project,” said Purcell. “Of an evening when the light is low, that wall looks like the changing nature of a blue ocean.”
Managing the heritage aspects of the existing structure presented its own set of challenges, particularly with the demolition process required to make way for new construction while preserving the building’s facade. One way to ensure the preservation of the building’s life journey was the reuse of existing materials where it was achievable. This included the level 2 office batten wall, made from the existing hardwood floor joists that were sanded and de-nailed by hand before being reintroduced into the building as a feature. This was a substantial and difficult task requiring involvement of the whole project team.
“We’ve always been trying to find opportunities to reintroduce products back into the building,” said Darryn. “So, the level two office batten wall became one of those opportunities.”
As with any project, this had its challenges, from the integration of modern construction techniques within a heritage context to the coordination of high-end finishes and services within constrained spaces; however, ‘The Finish Line’ stands as a prime example of Fairbrother’s expertise in managing complex heritage projects, the ability to innovate within the constraints of historical preservation, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.