Collingwood Yards
Situated on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, Collingwood Yards is the first of its kind in Australia; a new contemporary arts precinct emulating internationally successful and self-sufficient social enterprise models. The former Collingwood Technical College has been redeveloped into a major new creative hub offering secure and affordable tenancies for artists, arts organisations and creative enterprises.
Our vision of Collingwood Yards was developed through a study of the urban ecology of Collingwood and in consultation with artists, musicians, curators and indigenous urban planners to understand the needs of contemporary practitioners and organisations.
Our approach to working with the existing fabric was one of minimal intervention. We used design strategies to preserve the sense of discovery and patina of the old buildings, without ossifying them as relics or simply preserving them. Through our design we tried to frame and highlight existing ‘banal’ features, while making new work distinct.
