Architect: Therefore & Ample 2019

Located in a heritage-listed former mill, FAB9, part of co-working hub The Dream Factory, is one of the latest ventures to occupy this impressive example of late nineteenth century multi-storey industrial architecture. FAB9 is a space to experiment and explore through making.

The building is noted for its unified design on a massive scale, representing the heights of industrial developments of its era. It was built for the Barnett Glass Rubber factory, and later occupied by Bradford Mills, the Global Villages warehouse complex (where countless rave parties took place), and the headquarters of travel publisher Lonely Planet. Today, it is a coworking space.

FAB9 is made up of five distinct labs under one roof, including a Timber shop, a Digital Fabrication lab, a CNC lab, an Electronics lab and an Assembly area. The space has been purpose-built so designers and makers of all skill levels can access the training, tools and prototyping equipment needed to turn ideas into physical realities.

Photos: Will Neil