The Woolworks project aims to revive Perth's declining High Street by transforming a former Woolworths building from 1925 into 18 live/work units for skilled workers and creating multi-functional spaces for creativity. This project uses the concept of "urban acupuncture" to address Perth's core challenges, including the aging population, lack of skilled workers, and demand for homes. The former retail building will also serve as an incubator for creativity and facilitate engagement in the public realm. The intervention focuses on sustainability, preserving the historical dialogue of the building, and forming a 4-minute neighborhood in Perth. The building will be an event space for residents, with a central void for connectivity and interaction between spaces, and a winch system as a symbol of intervention and landmark along Mill Street. The project is influenced by the Newport Street Gallery by Caruso St John and aims to create a powerful and contemplative space for residents.
The design of the live/work units at Woolworks has been heavily influenced by Nicholas Shurey's workshop. These units offer a practical and economical solution for makers to both work and live in a single space. The design features an exposed timber frame wall with frosted polycarbonate panels and large sliding doors, which create an indoor street and encourage interaction between residents.
As part of the urban strategy, the adjacent activity space has been designed to follow the urban acupuncture method, aimed at promoting engagement in the public realm. This has been incorporated into the design by making the space a flexible temporary exhibition area, where residents and local creatives can display their work and improve their well-being. The temporary exhibitions are made possible by enclosures and materials created in the Woolworks workshop.
