THE BRIEF

Tattersalls Club in Brisbane was formed in 1865 and is housed in a heritage listed building in the CBD. Tattersalls Club is one of Brisbane's most prestigious social and sporting clubs, welcoming women into the membership within the last decade.

The original heritage listed art deco building was built in 1926, designed by local architects Hall and Prentice (later Hall and Phillips), and extended by the same architects in 1938 (now trading as Phillips Smith Conwell). In 1994 the Club extended the building into adjacent land, working with Robin Gibson Architects to build hotel levels, a retail arcade, administration, and hospitality spaces.

The Conservatory Dining Room is a renovation of the dining room, library, and administration spaces originally built in 1994, and which did not serve the Club’s modern requirements.

The project was conceived to balance the needs of new members with the traditions of the Club, and to honour the longevity of the institution and its members. 

OUR APPROACH

The existing building is a series of large rooms arranged around the central core. Each experience is unique, exemplifying the era that it was built within, enabling events and dining within an environment wholly conducive to socialising in a Club setting. The Conservatory leverages this spatial diagram, offering a simple large volume that maximises connection to natural light and the city context.

The material palette is warm, natural, highly crafted, and contemporary – to both contrast and compliment the heritage spaces adjacent.

The role of the Conservatory within the Club is to offer more diversity of experience to an expanding membership base. “Our diverse Membership is drawn across all ages, genders and backgrounds including business, government, sport, arts and culture”.

The Club wanted an opportunity to showcase a new contemporary menu, and to give their members more dining choices in “stylish contemporary surrounds, paired with deft, unobtrusive service”.

THE RESULTS

Studiospillane were conscious that the Club has a history of major renovations only every few decades, and so the decisions made would be added to the story of a building with an already rich history.

It was important to create a space where newer female members could comfortably inhabit, whilst quietly employing crafted details reminiscent of the history within the building.

The project included an expanded central kitchen, sommelier bar, private dining room (seating 26 at a single table), and new amenities.

SUSTAINABILITY

The opportunity to create new space within a heritage building of this prestige also presents the opportunity to properly showcase local makers and designers. Historically, the architects detailed the building with local timbers and furniture.

For the Conservatory, we specified only Australian furniture on a warm base palette of QLD blackbutt timber.

The pendant lights use glass blown in Melbourne (by Mark Douglass), the dining chairs and armchairs are made in Sydney (by Tide Design and Adam Goodrum respectively), and the dining tables were made in Brisbane (by Maki Maki).

We believe that specifying Australian products where possible adds to the sustainability of a project by not only reducing the footprint of the products themselves, but also by contributing to our local economy and supporting our fellow designers.

The Conservatory is the latest evolution of dining offer within a building that has been known for traditional service within historical settings.