Interviews with Adrian Light

We took great pride in the re-use of many of the existing materials on site including the 100 year old oregon beams and the “Northcote New” bricks that were made in the area at the turn of the 20th century. All waste material on site was recycled, meaning that we did not have a need for a rubbish skip on site at any point. There is a 3 storey home built on top of our basement level office. All of the 4 storeys look out onto a lush courtyard filled with Australian natives. The rain water from the site is collected at the re-purposed basement vats and redistributed throughout the toilets laundry and gardens in the building.

Built in 1890, the building was a vinegar-making factory for the iconic Skipping Girl Vinegar brand. It is now a 4 storey building. The Ground floor is an Architectural studio. The 3 Levels above are a family home.

Built in 1890, the building was initially a bakery, then it was turned into a vinegar-making factory in 1900, later becoming known as the “Skipping Girl Vinegar” brand. We purchased the building in 2012 it took 2 years to complete the construction.

The project has been designed to be sustainable down to the construction phase which involved a zero-waste policy, where no rubbish skips were allowed on site and where every material was re-used, recycled or re-purposed.

By using high performance windows, thermal mass, insulation, natural ventilation and shading, this project challenges the way we build things in a sustainable manner.

ONE20 Architects have now moved into our new offices in Eastment st Northcote. This was an exciting redevelopment of an old factory.

Adaptive reuse is a good thing, but re-purposing every piece of old material in the process takes the Skipping Girl Factory project to a higher level of performance, and makes it an exemplar for so much of our urban renewal and revitalisation

The project has been designed to be sustainable down to the construction phase which involved a zero-waste policy, where no rubbish skips were allowed on site and where every material was re-used, recycled or re-purposed.

By using high performance windows, thermal mass, insulation, natural ventilation and shading, this project challenges the way we build things in a sustainable manner.

By re-using each material found onsite, it can be said that the building itself was totally preserved.

Team Members

Adrian Light
Luca Calvanese
Lorelei Le Berre Soule

This project was carefully constructed in a sustainable manner. There was considerable re-use of existing materials;
The 10m long timber beams that are now in the kitchen courtyard all came from the basement.
The broken bricks from the stable became drainage for garden beds.
The good bricks from the stable and the hole for the garage door were made into the BBQ and balustrade for the kitchen and the floor paving in the laundry.
The cut out concrete from the vats was used in the fishpond and as seating in the garden.
The steel scaffolding pipes were used as handrails to the stairs and as the support frame for the desks.
The old steel stair was relocated with new treads and is now the bottom stair down to the basement.
The old steel window were repaired double-glazed and are featured in the bedrooms and lounge.
Hardwood timber wall framing reused as door jambs, screening and gate to courtyard.
Planks from scaffolding and stairs were reused as shelving.
Steel grates from old windows are now in the garage as tool organisers on the wall.
Weights from double-hung windows used to stabilise chains on the walls for creepers.
Vinegar barrels reused as planters.
Steel bands from vinegar barrels reused in drains for water tanks.
Steel stair reused as wine rack
Vats reused as workstations, planters, toilets, water tanks.
Cut-off rafter ends as a sculpture.

This is a great example of the sustainable adaptive re-use of a disused vinegar factory. The constructiion of the building was done with a zero waste solution. No skips were used. Everything on site was re-used, recycled or re-purposed. The basement was converted into an architecture studio with a 3 storey family home above. The vats were re-purposed as planters, Workstations, toilets, laundry and even a fishpond. Natural light pours into the building a result of removeing a third of the roof to create a garden court.

All building materials were collected onsite and sorted into recyclable catagories. Timber was placed in a pile outside and used by the neighbourhood for firewood. Steel was reshaped and cut to make flashings for the windows and doors. Bricks were smashed by hand and turned into drainage for the re-purposed vat planter boxes.

ONE20 Group architects have offices in London and Melbourne.

Design is the solving of a problem in an efficiecent and innovative manner.

I like to work in the area of adaptive re-use. Iyt is a challenge to bring new life to an old building. The bones of the old give us great inspiration.

Some of the lines of art nouveau really excite me. The seemingly nerending lie is very evocative.

I was lucky to be involved in the Masterplanning of the Sydney Olympics. This was a great early involment working for Lawrence Nield.

I like to work with metal and timber, but also brick, but only old brick. New brick is too uniform. Old brick has the edges taken off and is more individual and expressive.

I feel the most creative at 1am

Design firstly has to be functional. It is then that expression of the function which is design.

When design is going well then it feels very free.

There is a great sense of completion

A design must be functional first of all.

It annoys me greatly if elements do not aligh. If they do not then there must be a reason for this. Design always involves making a decision. If the decision is not to make a decision and place something at random, then its placemnet must work otherwise it hurts me.

Architects have a great responsibility to society. Initially we satisfy one of the three great needs; water , food and shelter. I would like to see architects advocate more for refugees /assylum seekers. The conditions Australia houses these people in are shameful.

Certainly computers have made a tremendous difference in the way we design, but also social issues such as climate change.

Our works are always on exhibit. Creating architecture means your design is on public display.

Inspiration comes from the site and its context.

I was educated as a Modernist, so I respect the ideas of Form and function.

Melbourne is a city that respects design. I feel I have the permission of the city to express myself.

I always work collaboratively with any client.

Trust your architect and give them full reign. But also inform them of what your needs are.

We have a unique way of working with our clients. We are a solutions provider, so much more than just being a supplier of architecture and design services. We like to work alongside our clients and other design professionals. This collaborative business culture is geared to smarter ways of operating, enabling us to achieve high standards of delivery and performance within budget and time constraint

1. Nelson Swage chair
2. Fritz Hansen Spin chair
3 Poltona Frau Kennedee couch
4.Citroen Pluriel
5. flat steel spatula - unknown welder

I have 2 children, 11 and 17. So at the moment I am home schooling them while trying to juggle my Architecture work

Work efficently. You do not need to be working until midnight in the office. Have a life outside of your firm

Freedom to create is the best part of being a designer. Having design skills undervalued is the worst.

There must be a reason for every design decision.

As a sustainable architect, I am interested in the whole lifcycle of the built environment. This includes the construction, waste, utility and demolition of any building.

A house will usually take 2 years. One year to design and get approvals and another year to build.

Working on the Sydney Olympics in 2000

Rubu Cha , Cha, Tesco, Nations Healthcare, The AFL , Netball australia,

I like to adapt old buildings to new uses. This is a very sustainable way of building.

My firm ONE20 architects will continue to strive for excellence in sustainability. It was s an honour to be shortlisted for a lifetime achievement award, and at just 51 year, I consider myself only halfway through my life as an architect.

I am intrigued by architecture’s link to the environment, I have always been concerned with waste and the most efficient use of resources. Lately I am becoming more interested in more natural environments and the way they are inhabited. I may well look at researching a PHD in this area.

We are converting an old hat factory into a house with a 3 storey green wall of vegetation and a moat

ONE20 Group Australasia
54/A Eastment St
Northcote
Vic. 3070
Australia

+61 (0) 423 355 137

adrian.light@one20group.com