You won't believe how Brisbane's heritage precinct was transformed with this innovative design approach!

Brisbane's Stanley Street precinct has undergone a stunning revitalization, thanks to the deft touch of James Davidson, Director of JDA Co. Working with Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson, who funded the project, Davidson has deployed his considerable design skills to transform the inner-city suburb of Woolloongabba into a vibrant hub of creativity, community, and entertainment.

Originally known as Shop Row, the precinct dates back to the early 1900s and is now home to a range of restaurants, bars, and offices. Davidson was tasked with designing a series of interconnected and overlapping spaces, which presented a significant architectural challenge. However, his approach, which focused on preserving the precinct's heritage while introducing a new dynamism, was a masterclass in constraint and careful consideration.

One example of Davidson's fresh approach was his redesign of the French restaurant C'est Bon. By removing internal petitioning, he was able to open up the interior to better engage with the streetscape. Outside, he installed planter boxes to create a subtle barrier to passing traffic, while allowing patrons to enjoy the view of Brisbane City Council's new bike path. Inside, Davidson lovingly repaired and restored the original tongue-and-groove timber ceilings and sandstone and brick walls, while the installation of an arched frame over the bar allowed his team to add lighting without compromising original building materials.

Davidson also turned his attention skyward, designing a new rooftop bar, known as Le Bon Bar. The structure sits atop the heritage walls of the existing building, perched on a platform supported by a series of legs that attach carefully to the existing heritage walls. Despite access restrictions, Davidson and his team used laser scanning to precisely measure the space, then worked closely with engineers to design balustrading, stair access, guttering, and provisions for power and waste removal. The orientation of the bar favours the east, providing patrons with a bird's eye view out over Mater Hill and the nearby sporting stadium, The Gabba.

Davidson's approach is well aligned with the intentions of businessman Steve Wilson, who initiated the entire precinct project and engaged JDA Co. to lead the design. The pair's offices are side-by-side on the first floor of the Stanley Street strip, with Davidson designing both spaces. For Steve's office, high arched ceilings and an abundance of natural light provide a sense of welcoming grandeur and significant space, while views out to the Princess Theatre provide a stunning backdrop.

Together, Wilson and Davidson share a vision of Stanley Street as a central hub where artists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs, and business owners can live, work, and play in a truly creative environment. According to Wilson, Davidson was the perfect choice for its redesign, as he has the ability to interpret the soul of a place and deploy design to preserve and protect that feeling well into the future. Wilson sees Stanley Street as a vital connector to many much-loved Brisbane sites such as The Gabba, South Bank, and the Mater Hospital, where so many of Brisbane's babies are born, including some of his own five offspring.

In conclusion, Davidson's stunning redesign of the Stanley Street precinct is a testament to his considerable design skills and his ability to preserve the heritage of a place while introducing a new dynamism. Together with businessman Steve Wilson, he has transformed the precinct into a vibrant hub of creativity, community, and entertainment, where artists, musicians, designers, entrepreneurs, and business owners can live, work, and play in a truly creative environment. The result is a stunning example of how architecture and design can help to define a city's character, history, and form, turning a suburban street into a memorable destination that will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Cover photo ©Scott Burrows Photographer