Location
Abbotsford,
Victoria
Builder
Liberty BuildersStatus
Built - 2015Client
Domain Hill2015 Master Builders Victoria
Excellence in Housing
Best Multi-Unit Development – Winner
2015 Master Builders Australia
(in conjunction with Liberty Builders)
Excellence in Building & Construction
National Medium Density – Winner
2015 LEAF Awards
Mixed Used Building of the Year
2 Girls Building – Winner
2012-2013 International Property Awards
Architecture Multiple Residence Australia
2 Girls Building – Highly Commended
The 2 Girls Building is a mixed use building that fuses art, photography and architecture. The project explores the relationship between the three disciplines and blurs their respective boundaries resulting in one craft overlapping and appropriating the characteristics of the others in the form of a new medium. As a result photography appropriates architectural materiality and photography shifts into the architectural space of the third dimension. Architecture becomes photography, photography becomes architecture and the building becomes a hybrid urban artefact within the built environment.
KUD collaborated with Melbourne Artist Samantha Everton during the design process to ensure a collaborative integration of art forms throughout the project. The “Masquerade”, from Everton’s ‘Vintage Dolls’ series, that features on the building façade, was specifically selected for its familiar vernacular in its subject matter which is synonymous with inner-city traditional domestic spaces and more importantly, for the drama and theatre it provides to the public realm. The primary circulation space doubles as a de facto art gallery with artwork on display, dividing the offices, warehouse spaces and residential apartments.
The collaboration injected another layer of complexity; unintentionally exchanging and swapping the role of the architect to artist and the artist to architect. The boundaries of the alliance were blurred, redefining ‘the artist’ and ‘the architect’ as one expression. This synergy spawned a hybrid typology and ensured that the photo‐archi‐art prevailed.
2015 Master Builders Victoria
Excellence in Housing
Best Multi-Unit Development – Winner
2015 Master Builders Australia
(in conjunction with Liberty Builders)
Excellence in Building & Construction
National Medium Density – Winner
2015 LEAF Awards
Mixed Used Building of the Year
2 Girls Building – Winner
2012-2013 International Property Awards
Architecture Multiple Residence Australia
2 Girls Building – Highly Commended
The 2 Girls Building is a mixed use building that fuses art, photography and architecture. The project explores the relationship between the three disciplines and blurs their respective boundaries resulting in one craft overlapping and appropriating the characteristics of the others in the form of a new medium. As a result photography appropriates architectural materiality and photography shifts into the architectural space of the third dimension. Architecture becomes photography, photography becomes architecture and the building becomes a hybrid urban artefact within the built environment.
KUD collaborated with Melbourne Artist Samantha Everton during the design process to ensure a collaborative integration of art forms throughout the project. The “Masquerade”, from Everton’s ‘Vintage Dolls’ series, that features on the building façade, was specifically selected for its familiar vernacular in its subject matter which is synonymous with inner-city traditional domestic spaces and more importantly, for the drama and theatre it provides to the public realm. The primary circulation space doubles as a de facto art gallery with artwork on display, dividing the offices, warehouse spaces and residential apartments.
The collaboration injected another layer of complexity; unintentionally exchanging and swapping the role of the architect to artist and the artist to architect. The boundaries of the alliance were blurred, redefining ‘the artist’ and ‘the architect’ as one expression. This synergy spawned a hybrid typology and ensured that the photo‐archi‐art prevailed.