Utopia @ Waterfall Gully

By S2 Architects

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  • LOCATION: Waterfall Gully
  • CLIENT: Utopia @ Waterfall Gully
  • COMPLETION: 2015

THE QUESTION:

How can a cafe extend the functionality of its heritage listed, highly character filled building and unique landscape without losing the essence of the place?

A CENTURY OLD, HERITAGE-LISTED CHALET THAT IS TRULY UNIQUE AS AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST TEA ROOMS, SET AT THE BASE OF A WATERFALL.

THE BRIEF:

  • Modernise and maximise the potential of a popular State heritage listed wedding and function venue.
  • Tell the story of nature, quality and history.
  • Increase the function capacity.
  • Utilise opportunities to increase revenue streams.
  • Create a connection with the location outside
  • Achieve a design that complies with State heritage strict guidelines
  • Maintain strict project timeframes – minimise closure time to 2.5 weeks and maintain existing bookings.

THE CHALLENGES:

  • Tight construction time frames.
  • Heritage restrictions.
  • Minimal budget.
  • Attractive for tourist attraction visitors.
  • Attractive as a wedding venue.
  • Commercially successful as a co-located café, function space and restaurant.
  • Exposed location, cold and damp climate and shaded from direct sun by steep hillsides.

THE OUTCOME:

Working closely with the client, builder and heritage advisor, the scope of work was defined early to achieve a solution that was budget appropriate but achieved the project goals. Selection of items that could be pre-fabricated and installed quickly took preference over site construction.

Expansion was limited to within the existing building roofline,and constructed so that the new installation could be removed and returned to the original heritage condition.

Entrances were framed and outdoor eating spaces located at critical pedestrian paths to encourage spur of the moment café purchases upon approach or return from the waterfalls.

The interior space was designed to better connect with the landscape, attracting more of the nature loving tourists attracted to the waterfall and scenic landscape, as they could sit in a more natural setting but out of the weather.

Expansion of the function area with movable walls allows maximum efficiency in setup and service.

Photography: Studio S2 Architects

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Utopia @ Waterfall Gully
Utopia @ Waterfall Gully

Professionals used in
Utopia @ Waterfall Gully

S2 Architects
S2 Architects
Architects
- 2022

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About the
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Studio S2 Architects believe that all tourism businesses have something extraordinary to offer. We help you to find your extraordinary and to shape it into something that visitors will be amazed by.

Tell your story
As specialist tourism industry architects and interior designers, we start with identifying you're extraordinary through our unique profiling tool – unearthing the ‘personality’ of your spaces. Then we learn about where your business is now and where you want to go next. The end result is a destination that is unique to you.

Studio S2 can help you to think bigger, improve profitability and create a genuine sense of ‘place’. From tasting rooms to hotels, and from visitor centres to farms, we’ll make your spaces mean more – helping you express your extraordinary and tell your story better. We help you to gain more visitors, increase your sales and create compelling reasons for people to come back again.

Above all, you’ll have the clarity and confidence you need to make good decisions and invest wisely. We will provide you with what you need to present a truly authentic, character-filled destination that engages visitors – a place that turns them into loyal customers and brand ambassadors.

Our work is based on five pillars:

Think bigger: Tourism businesses can be extraordinary – we’ll show you how to tell your story.

Improve profitability: We create spaces that sell products and experiences.

Make it personal: We speak your language and become part of your team.

Use the specialists: We live and breathe tourism, just like you.

Create a sense of ‘place’: We’ll help you create spaces that mean more to your visitors.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.