CERES Volunteer Space and Site Office, 2017
In 2017, this project involved redesigning the old Alternative Technologies Association (ATA) building at the CERES site to serve as the site office and provide a volunteer space. Originally built in the early 1980s, the ATA building was a collaborative effort involving stonemason students from the former Fitzroy TAFE and volunteers from the ATA, including the original architect Simon Harvey. The structure featured bluestone walls and an A-frame design, with a polycarbonate-clad northern facade.
The redesign revitalised the building by adding partition walls and incorporating a large sliding door to control privacy. The eastern section was reconfigured to create a volunteer space for socialising and communal cooking. A standout feature of the renovation is the curvaceous desk in the site office, constructed from reclaimed timber. The wood was sourced from both the renovation process and the bowling lanes of the recently demolished Northcote Bowl. The desk was designed to address glare from the northern facade by angling each team member's workspace toward the large, translucent wall.