The Lower House

The Lower House:

9 Murray St, Hobart TAS
(03) 6224 0067 or www.thelowerhouse.com.au

Hobart’s old Elbow Room basement restaurant has been given a new lease on life and a new ID, emerging as the Lower House restaurant and bar. A block from Hobart’s popular waterfront, Lower House is situated at street level among the heritage sandstone walls and is marked by a bold black and zinc-clad doorThrough the signature door is a warmly lit foyer and a small staircase that leads into the main elbow-shaped venue, which comprises a series of intimate dining spaces and an open bar. Slick, shiny and mod-minimalist, the venue has low tables fronting red banquettes around a central stainless steel bar/service area. A couple of sink-into lounges are grouped in two of the corners and glossy black wooden blocks offer casual seating.Vivo Building Design transformed a damp and inhospitable basement restaurant into a sexy, warm contemporary bar restaurant. The clients wished to capture the sophistication of Melbourne’s bar scene and overlay it with the intrinsic relaxed nature of Hobart… mission accomplished.The Zinc cladding on the bar and the entry doors (external treatment) was chosen for its ability to weather and age gracefully. Internal doors have had a black paisley vinylpattern applied to create an almost signature character to the business and space.The lighting was designed and detailed to enhance the historical features of the space as well as accentuate the new. The lighting methodology was to create a space that had a warm glow and in most cases the light source is not visible.E Home Partnership supplied and installed Jamo in-wall and in-ceiling speakers with an Australian Monitor three-zone preamp controller and a Xantech PA1235 multi- channel power amp.The project is an example of recycling and retention of historical character. The Lower House is a nice case study in how to read the historical value of space and material and utilise it to apply a new layer — a fresh story.