By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Northbridge Brewing Company, a 12-hectolitre microbrewery and pub in the centre of Perth, has won the National Building Design of the Year award at the National Building Design Awards.
The Northbridge Brewing Company building abuts the Northbridge Piazza, a popular entertainment precinct that also comprises restaurants, bars, nightclubs, boutiques and an open-air cinema. The venue itself contains the functioning microbrewery – which patrons enter through – and the food and beverage spaces of a traditional pub.
The building has a glass façade, and the design includes a mix of industrial materials including copper, concrete, stainless steel and recycled bricks. It was designed by d4 Designs – a local design firm whose portfolio includes the Broken Hill Hotel, Victoria Park and The Mustang Bar in Brisbane.
As part of the Northbridge Piazza, the brief for the microbrewery was to stimulate foot traffic at the northern end of the precinct. Steven Claridge, chair of the judging panel at the National Building Design Awards, felt that the design of Northbridge Brewing Company definitely met the brief.
“The open air bar brings a refreshing and sophisticated element, creating a relaxed and welcoming space for local Northbridge residents and interstate travellers.”
“Visually, the venue responds perfectly and respectfully to the site, giving the interior a robust industrial aesthetic with superb interplay between form, function and the patrons.”
The venue also won the ‘Best New/Alteration/Addition Commercial Design’ and ‘Best New/Alteration/Addition Industrial Design’ awards.
Douglas Paton, Director of d4 Designs, was incredibly happy with the outcome of the design. “Our objective was to incorporate the natural surroundings of the brewery and provide a relaxed backdrop for the public to explore,” Paton said.
“This is an impressive and bold design, and we’re proud to have been part of a project that will give a great deal back to the local Northbridge community.”
Ben Rasheed, Director of Northbridge Brewing Company, was very pleased with the win.
“We are thrilled that Northbridge Brewing Company and its designer Doug Paton have been recognised with such a high profile award.
"Doug did an outstanding job to accommodate a 1200L working brewery into a building that integrates so well with the green open space of the Northbridge Piazza.
"Not only is NBC’s design practical, it is appealing to customers. NBC has enticed a lot of guests that are not the usual Northbridge crowd to try the range of craft beers brewed on site in a laid-back environment.
"We believe that this award shows that NBC is well on its way to becoming a Northbridge icon.”
The National Building Design Awards are hosted by the National Association of Building Designers.