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himmelzimmer is an architectural design practice in Melbourne dedicated to investigating
an architecture that evolves from a continuous dialogue of imaginative and practical thinking.

As a studio we need to be able to define what building/design we aspire to the most:
For us this is ‘a room in the sky’, a ‘himmelzimmer’.

From its open window we can see the endless sky encouraging us that our ideas should be
dream-like without boundaries. With its window closed we can focus on the work on our desk
in front of us, the technical delivery of our ideas.

All our designs evolve from the dialogue of these two perspectives which are both essential
in the delivery of well-executed buildings that inspire and transcend the ordinary.

Our work is at its most successful where our window to the world is in a constant state of
in-between, where it is simultaneously closed and open.

We started in 2003 as studio505.
Following studio505’s closure in 2016 we are continuing our work as himmelzimmer

himmelzimmer is an architectural design practice in Melbourne dedicated to investigating
an architecture that evolves from a continuous dialogue of imaginative and practical thinking.

As a studio we need to be able to define what building/design we aspire to the most:
For us this is ‘a room in the sky’, a ‘himmelzimmer’.

All our designs evolve from the dialogue of these two perspectives which are both essential
in the delivery of well-executed buildings that inspire and transcend the ordinary.

Our work is at its most successful where our window to the world is in a constant state of
in-between, where it is simultaneously closed and open.

We started in 2003 as studio505.
Following studio505’s closure in 2016 we are continuing our work as himmelzimmer

lotus

wujin, china

nanyang primary school

singapore

ng teng fong + jurong

singapore

the strand facade

melbourne, australia

155 queen st mall

brisbane, australia

Patterson Lakes Primary School

melbourne, australia

norwood secondary college

melbourne, australia

watsonia primary school

melbourne, australia

royal domain tower art façade

melbourne, australia

the arena

melbourne, australia

bouverie street

melbourne, australia

wintergarden

brisbane, australia

Queens Rd Public Artwork

melbourne, australia

pixel

melbourne, australia

boronia structures

melbourne, australia

interpol

singapore

the strand interior

melbourne, australia

the strand interior

melbourne, australia

interior design

studio505 / himmelzimmer

completion date

2016

client

ISPT

project manager

APP

lighting designer

Electrolight

contractor

Built

services engineers

Simpson Kotzman

wayfinding

Buro North

photography

Martin Leitch, Chris Mugeli

This arcade within central Melbourne was initially designed with a simple light palette – light pavers, white plasterboard ceiling and warm white cove lighting.

Studio505 were asked to review the existing design and identify areas for improvement which could be adjusted whilst still maintaining operation of the retail centre. Ultimately this led to the significant refurbishment of the ceiling to include a series of illuminated suspended cassettes which completely transformed and lifted the quality the retail environment, which goes to show how much of an impact adjusting one of the architectural surfaces can have.