fairlie wellness centre - south yarra

This project forms a ground-level adaptive reuse intervention within Fairlie Apartments, one of Melbourne’s earliest and most architecturally significant high-rise residential buildings. Completed in 1961 by Yuncken Freeman, Fairlie is heritage-listed and recognised for its refined modernist expression, requiring a measured and contextually responsive design approach.

The intervention is defined by restraint, material clarity, and continuity, establishing a quiet dialogue between the existing modernist fabric and contemporary insertions. A custom terrazzo palette, paired with pale European oak veneer, off-white surfaces, and brass detailing, creates a cohesive interior language grounded in durability and longevity. Externally, the courtyard retains its original textured brick envelope and mature Camellia tree, now anchored by a monolithic in situ terrazzo bench that reinforces the project’s material consistency.

Mortadello Terrazzo elements were delivered through a combination of in situ terrazzo and precast fabrication, selected to suit both spatial conditions and detailing requirements. The scope includes:

• In situ terrazzo flooring throughout, articulated with precision brass inlays

• Custom terrazzo shower base with coved skirting junctions for seamless wet-area detailing

• Integrated terrazzo shower bench, cast in place for continuity of surface and form

• Monolithic textured terrazzo bench seating within the courtyard setting

• Bespoke terrazzo kitchenette joinery, including a vanity with integrated basin

• Terrazzo splashback, aligning with the broader material palette

Each element was resolved with a focus on junction detailing, material transitions, and long-term performance, ensuring the new work sits comfortably within the heritage context while meeting contemporary standards of use.

BUILDER: COMB construction

ARCHITECT: WOOD MARSH

LANDSCAPING: Kate Seddon Landscape Design