The Creative Reuse category celebrates projects that incorporate, adapt and reimagine existing structures for an entirely new purpose – a practice that is central to sustainability and the preservation of embodied energy in existing buildings.

Reimagining 17,000 square metres of industrial heritage, Younghusband adapts a 122-year-old wool store and sundry buildings, transforming it into a vibrant, mixed-use urban village. Using a “light touch” methodology, the design retains much of the existing fabric, creating a contemporary precinct that is highly sustainable and rich in emplaced history.  

The jury commended the design team on their integration of public space into the site, opening up a local heritage landmark to the community through porous insertions and a dynamic, activated ground plane.

“You should be commended for not only your streetscape ideas within the space, but your sustainability efforts are just boundless,” one juror remarked. “You’ve done such a careful, thoughtful job of making this building even better than it had always been before, and you’ve kept the fun, too. I hope you’ve enjoyed the ride.”

Woods Bagot Design Director Peter Miglis says the team is deeply humbled to receive global recognition for a project that has been a labour of love for the Melbourne studio. Since 2016, the team has worked tirelessly with stakeholders, engaging in countless community consultations to achieve the best results for history, sustainability, and community.

“It’s an honour to be recognised alongside the very best in the business,” Miglis. “The WAF name brings credibility, prestige, and recognition, so it’s great to see projects like these that are creatively reusing existing structures celebrated on a world stage. Congratulations to joint venture partners Built., Ivanhoe Cambridge and Irongate Group for their continued pursuit of excellence in design and sustainability outcomes on this project.”

Miglis adds that the project sets new benchmarks for what is possible to achieve with existing structures. “Younghusband is a true exemplar of the benefits to sustainability, community and character that come out of working within existing fabric. This project provides a deep social, environmental, and urban impact through a meaningful adaptive-reuse framework, celebrating the past and ensuring its ongoing relevance into the future.”

Peter Miglis presented before a live jury at World Architecture Festival on Thursday 13 November. The project has also been shortlisted for a second category, “Best Use of Sustainability”, which will be judged on Friday 14 November.

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Isla Sutherland
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