With a design that respects the heritage nature of the site, a 1940s wool store has been converted into the flagship showroom of furniture retailer Living Edge.

The design is immersive, with double height displays providing a dramatic backdrop to the furniture and products on show. The design of the flagship showroom of Australian furniture supplier and retailer Living Edge is situated in a vibrant new food and retail precinct in Sydney’s Alexandria.

Built during WWII as storage for wool transported from around Australia before being shipped overseas, the Woolstores are transforming into a dynamic retail hub that focuses on design.

The design is immersive, creating volumes of space and providing the opportunity for visitors to properly connect with Living Edge products. Pedestrian thoroughfares create a laneway environment offering a well-defined balance of community and retail spaces.

The heritage nature of the building was a key consideration in the design of the showroom. Woods Bagot engaged a heritage consultant who helped preserve and restore the original structure. The translation between the heritage building and the new fit-out is a critical part of the concept.

With no street frontage for the showroom, the design challenge was to create a space that would be visible to pedestrians as they explore the precinct. The design response was to create double height displays around the perimeter of the building providing a dramatic backdrop to the furniture and products on show.

Living Edge

February 2015

Domenic Alvaro

Todd Hammond

Year 2015

Work finished in 2015

Client Living Edge

Status Completed works

Type Showrooms/Shops