Designed by prominent Architect Howard Lawson in 1933, Dorrington House is a heritage significant apartment building within the Alexandra Avenue Precinct and one of a collection of notable inter-war residential buildings by Lawson, including the nearby Beverly Hills Apartments.
Plico Design Studio were the Architects and Heritage Advisors for the upgrades to compliance safety and conservation of façades of the apartments, requiring us to balance contemporary safety requirements with heritage conservation. Large, unprotected openings presented significant fall risks, requiring a solution that was structurally robust yet visually discreet. A fine tensile mesh system was integrated throughout balconies, stairways and landings, delivering compliant fall protection while preserving the building’s architectural character through its almost imperceptible, veil-like appearance.
Specialist structural repairs stabilised deteriorated render and masonry, securing the long-term integrity of the building fabric. A new wrought iron fence, carefully detailed to reflect the original inter-war character, provides discreet fall protection to the sunken courtyard while maintaining openness, natural light and landscape views.
The Commons
80 Market Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205
Australia
+61 407 633 473 – Angus
+61 419 398 114 – Yasmine
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We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of Country throughout Australia and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future.
Plico Design Studio ensures that our projects respect the heritage of our first inhabitants and their ongoing people. We actively seek consultation with indigenous bodies, to ensure our projects are respectful to the full breath of Australian history.