196 FLINDERS STREET, MELBOURNE

Adjacent to St. Pauls Cathedral, the gothic revivalist 196 Flinders St. is one of the Melbourne’s most iconic heritage addresses.  Completed in 1892 by Reed, Smart and Tappin this building was occupied by the Metropolitan Gas Company until 1967.

Ivy co-ordinated extensive restoration to the façade, roof and tower while maintaining occupancy of the building and working within one of the busiest precincts in the CBD.

Working with Lovell Chen Architects and renowned artisanal trades from across Australia Ivy completed a full render restoration to the façade including ashlar line work and conservational of the original limestone details.

Other works included intricate Lead coping details, copper rainwater goods replacement and restoration, slate roof repairs, demolition of existing screed membrane and replacement with a new lightweight polymer screed and torch on bitumen membrane roof system to all flat areas of the roof (including all associated decommissioning and reconnection of plant).  Also, three coat traditional rendering, pressed cement casting, timber window repair, glazing replacement and painting works.

The cladding to the tower was newly fabricated with painted galvanised pressed metal incorporating stainless steel rainwater goods.

Stone restoration works including repairing indents and repointing and structural remedial works were also undertaken to the fire escape stairs, brickwork and concrete slab at the rear of the building.

All these works were undertaken from a highly engineered cantilevered, covered scaffold too ensure that the delicate catacombs under the building remained undisturbed and the building remained accessible to the public.