Situated on the corner of Loop and Church Streets, the old ‘Floris Smithuijs’ is an 18th Century house with Georgian, Victorian and later additions. Years of neglect had left the building in a poor condition; with an awkward layout, lack of natural light and shoddy finishes. A bit of exploring revealed that hidden behind these layers the building still retained beautiful original features such as yellowwood floors, panelled doors, timber ceilings with large 18th Century Yellowwood beams and a beautiful Georgian staircase.

This sensitive refurbishment set out to reinvigorate the building simply by enhancing its existing features whilst making it fit for its new purpose. We strove to achieve an abstract, timeless quality in the design, where the textures and forms of the original building are preserved and enhanced. The essence of the space takes precedence over a layered array of interior design elements.

By creating tension between old and new elements the authenticity of the historical features is preserved, while new additions are differentiated.  New elements such as the striking Iroko internal doors and windows, are made of a similar material articulated with a distinct contemporary form. Emphasis is placed on historical layering to tell a continuous story of the building through time.