Construction has commenced on the $2.75 billion redevelopment of Melbourne’s iconic Jam Factory precinct in South Yarra. The project will transform the site into a vibrant mixed-use hub, featuring 600 residences, commercial offices, retail and hospitality spaces, a new cinema complex, and two hotels.
The precinct’s rich history dates back to 1858, when it was first constructed as a brewery. Over the years, it has evolved into a preserve and jam manufacturer, and eventually, a retail and cinema precinct in the 1990s.
The redevelopment project, led by Gurner Group, will introduce a range of amenities, including 10,000 square meters of commercial office space, 20,000 square meters of retail and hospitality offerings, and a 2,500-square-meter public piazza called Village Square.
The project’s design team, comprising Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), Buchan, Gurner Design House, and Townshend Landscape Architects, aimed to create a visually captivating and architecturally diverse urban environment.
“The intent has been to design buildings that combine functionality with aesthetic expression,” said Alexander Fin, Gurner’s general manager of design. “The architecture takes inspiration from both the timelessness of New York’s most iconic residential and hotel buildings, and the modern buildings that make up its skyline.”
Demolition efforts have commenced, with the removal of non-heritage elements and the preservation of the iconic facade of the Village Cinema complex. The cinema will be reinstated into the precinct upon completion.
Image Courtesy: architectureau.com
