The Stables, University of Melbourne

Project Detail

Client - Victorian College of Arts / University of Melbourne

Location - Melbourne

Services - Technical design

The Venue

The Former Mounted Police Stables and Former Riding School have been transformed to Victorian College of Art’s School of Art. This multi-award winning project was lead by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

Our Scope

A project originally initiated when Craig was working for University of Melbourne on the new home for Melbourne Theatre Company and then delivered whilst leading the MDE team, this is a highly adaptable reworking of the heritage listed Victorian Police Stables and horse training arena into dedicated artist studios and a performance / exhibition venue suitable for art, exhibition, function, event, dance and theatre performances.

Retaining the heritage elements of the space and designed around the principles of flexibility and capability envisaged by Craig, the room, and its support spaces, were provided with an exposed skeleton frame inserted into the building which provides the high structural loads, variable rigging points and cabling infrastructure / reticulation required to meet operational needs.

The result has been a highly flexible, adaptable, award winning space.