Pub renovations are the most controversial of building work. As the regulars’ nostalgic affection for beer-soaked carpets and cigarette burns on the bar competes with the owner’s hope for a glitzy renewal and a trendier crowd, the debate seems to expose a faultline in our idea of the local pub. History and tradition comes up against fashion and polish; the old and dirty claims precedence over the new and soulless. And everywhere, the debate becomes about whom the pub is there for, and how the building will reflect their claims on its soul.

Out of this potential minefield, architects Taylor Robinson have achieved the near-impossible: a renovation that wins praise rather than opprobrium; a pub that seems to be there for everyone. Far from falling into the familiar traps that so often beset such renovations, the Brisbane Hotel – located, despite its name, in inner city Perth – has been transformed from a rundown local pub into Perth’s favourite nightspot.

A turn-of-the century building located on a wedge-shaped site in Perth’s trendy Highgate area, the Brisbane Hotel’s original site already combined the historical tradition of the local pub with urban renewal and a changing environment. Drawing out these two factors, in conjunction with a real sense of the local lifestyle, Taylor Robinson’s renovation remains connected to its context and conscious of its patrons.

Preserving original aspects of the building, the hotel revives a connection to its history that had been obscured by degradation. By seeking out and perusing plans dating back several decades, Taylor Robinson were able to restore the building to something resembling its original structure. The design pares back accumulated modifications, removing later internal walls, ceilings and finishes and restoring the corner bar and original street openings.

The result speaks strongly of the design’s late nineteenth-century origins, with exposed timber and metal beams and polished timber floors giving the building an earthy, traditional quality. In combination with the preservation of popular pre-renovation elements such as the sports bar, this awareness of the pub’s past creates a homely atmosphere that acknowledges and welcomes old regulars.

This nod to tradition nonetheless has a distinctly modern aesthetic, a cleaning and revitalising of the old that recalls fashionable warehouse renovations. In keeping with this meeting of past and present, contemporary design elements were selected to complement the older aesthetic. Concrete blocks and warm-coloured brick become a stylish feature that evokes the sturdy construction of turn-of-the-century building while contrasting pleasantly with the timber throughout.

Unmistakably modern elements – from the artwork on the walls to the circular light fittings – provide an urban edge to the traditional undertones, uniting the classic local pub with the aesthetic of a stylish inner-city bar. The careful balance produces a relaxed atmosphere in which old regulars can comfortably rub shoulders with fashionable newcomers.

This eclecticism of the pub’s clientele is encouraged by the floor plan, which splits into a number of smaller bars that suit different atmospheres and allow the venue to be used in a range of different ways. The sports bar sits alongside dining areas serving delicious pub meals and rooms full of comfortable couches perfect for a relaxed afternoon drink. This multifunctionality of the space encourages a diverse range of patrons and allows the pub to become a genuine community hub. At the same time, the open design encourages free circulation between different rooms, resisting the impulse to ghettoisation that sometimes accompanies diversity.

Each of these internal bars opens onto the ‘pavilion bar’, which in turn is the gateway to the courtyard at the back of the Brisbane. This structure makes the courtyard the focal point of the whole hotel – and appropriately so. The courtyard eschews the distinctions of the interior. Instead, its flame trees and date palms provide a relaxed setting that welcomes the city’s inhabitants without distinction. The spectacular water feature provides a calming focus, emphasising the comfortable, laid-back mood of the renovated Brisbane Hotel. The perfect place for a cold beer during a hot West Australian summer, the courtyard offers an al fresco dining and drinking area that seems perfectly suited to Perth’s relaxed atmosphere.

Taylor Robinson’s recognition of the importance of atmosphere, mood and, above all, clientele lies at the heart of the Brisbane Hotel’s stunning success. By consciously working towards an atmosphere that incorporated the building’s history while shedding its uglier aspects, and that cultivated diversity while celebrating what is best about the Perth lifestyle, they defied the odds and produced a trendy venue that is genuinely inclusive. That the Brisbane Hotel was awarded Best Hotel of 2006 by the Australian Bartender association is proof enough of both the uniqueness and the triumph of this renovation.+

Top. Main bar.

Second. The Pavilion Bar, a transition space for the courtyard.

Third. The courtyard, a central focus for the Hotel.

Bottom. Some of the furniture and features were custom designed by the architects.

Photographers: Robert Frith, Acorn Photography