Description

Melbourne’s 140 William Street (formerly BHP House) is one of the city’s most celebrated examples of modernist architecture and has been thoughtfully revitalised – remaining true to its distinctive form while also evolving as a next generation workplace environment.

The project was awarded through a design competition held in 2019; presenting Bates Smart and client Rest with a rare opportunity to reinstate original elements of the ground plane while introducing new café pavilions with their own distinct forms that complement the original architecture.

What's On

Join us for a tour of 140 William Street ground plane, followed by a relaxed panel discussion moderated by Open House Melbourne Executive Director Tania Davidge. Hear from panellists Jeff Copolov – Bates Smart, Anthony Chadwick – Rest, and Dr Emily Cormack – Art Curator as they share insights into the design process, the challenges of revitalising an iconic modernist building, and the thinking behind its transformation.

Brought to you with the generous support of our friends and partners, Non-Stop Fun(draisers) offer a opportunity to discover something new or re-discover a favourite building, place or space, all while making a valuable contribution to the ongoing delivery of Open House Melbourne’s free and accessible programs, helping us continue to celebrate good design.

In Collaboration With:

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  Tania Davidge

  Tania Davidge is a design advocate, architect, writer and Executive Director at Open House Melbourne. She is passionate about communicating the importance of good design to public audiences in ways that encourage people to think more deeply about the issues that shape our cities.
  
  Tania has extensive experience across architecture, urban design and strategic design. She has a PhD from the University of Melbourne focused on the development of creative strategies for engaging public audiences with architecture and the public realm and a Masters in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in New York.

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  Jeff Copolov, Bates Smart

  Jeff Copolov is an Interior Designer and recently retired Director in Bates Smart’s Melbourne studio. He is driven by an exacting attention to detail, quality resolution and excellence of execution. 
  Jeff is renowned for his ability to pinpoint the absolute appropriate design solution for each and every project. He combines his passion for traditional interiors crafts such as cabinetry, joinery, stonemasonry and metalwork with meticulous execution to create beautifully bespoke and highly refined interiors. 
  Since joining Bates Smart in 1983, Jeff has been awarded a number of prestigious accolades, including the 2003 IDEA Gold Medal for significant contributions to the design industry and Designer of the Year at the 2010 IDEA awards. He was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2018, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Australian design industry.

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  Anthony Chadwick, Rest

  Anthony Chadwick is a Senior Manager, Asset Management, within the Real Assets Direct Investment team, being responsible for the asset management of Rest’s directly owned office portfolio. The portfolio comprises two Sydney assets (i.e. Quay Quarter Tower, 50 Bridge Street and 52 Martin Place) and two Melbourne assets (140 William Street and 717 Bourke Street).
  Anthony has works at rest for nearly 10 years and oversees all aspects of the office portfolio, including strategy, property management, facilities management, leasing, tenant relationships, and capital expenditure.
  Anthony has previously worked at Bennelong, Dexus, and ISPT in similar asset management roles. He has also worked as a property consultant, tenant advisory and valuer both in Australia and in the United Kingdom, primarily with Knight Frank. He started his career as town planner, primarily with the City of Prahran and the State Transport Authority.
  Anthony has a Bachelor of Business (Property) and a Bachelor of Arts (Urban Studies). He is an Associate of the Australian Property Institute (AAPI), a Member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), and is a Licensed Estate Agent.

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  Dr Emily Cormack

  Dr. Emily Cormack is Head of Exhibitions and Programs at TarraWarra Museum of Art, and has been a leading figure in Australasian curatorial practice since 2001.
  Recent positions have included Curator, Public Art at Monash University, Artistic Director and Curator of The Melbourne Art Fair, Curator, Public Art at Merri-bek Council, and more.
  In 2020 she formed Coupland Cormack – an independent curatorial platform developing strategy and creative responses for the public realm across Australasia.
  Curatorial projects include exhibitions in Malaysia, Italy, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore, as well as curating and project managing over 50 exhibitions in Australia.
  Emily recently published a chapter from her PhD in the Monash University text ‘Let’s Go Outside: Art in Public Spaces’.