TILT invigorates melbourne's stokehouse with a bi-folding timber-clad façade

almost four years have passed since a fire tore through the popular foreshore venue ‘stokehouse’ in st. kilda, australia and it is again vigorous thanks to an iconic new building. TILT has collaborated with robert simeoni architects and owners van haandel group, to reimagine the new stokehouse’s exterior. the restaurant, spread over two levels, has a fresh new look, and sits just a few meters from one of melbourne’s most famous beaches.

all images by john gollings

the building doesn’t try to imitate its predecessor. instead, sydney industrial design studio TILT pays homage to the beachside jetty, with a blackened timber-clad façade. raw elements such as leather, concrete and brick connect the building to the nearby man-made sand dunes. the dunes conceal the ground floor from street level, giving ‘stokehouse’, on the top floor, the illusion of floating. the new precinct also houses casual bar and grill pontoon, and a fish-and-chip kiosk.

the dunes conceal the ground floor from street level, giving stokehouse, on the top floor, the illusion of floating

TILT has undertaken the façade design, manufacturing and installation process. the exterior side is a series of horizontally bi-folding screens located outside the restaurant’s windows. this system provide protection from the sun and can be raised to reveal beautiful bay views. the coastal location is a demanding environment for mechanical structures. marine grade stainless steel was used for the façade’s fabricated structural elements -– paramount for longevity and reliable performance. the design team has added to the building’s aesthetic with the operable screen, while considering the comfort of patrons -– a combination resulting in a great planning and commercial outcome. 

the screens provide protection from the sun and can be raised to reveal beautiful bay views

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom