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Nicholas Building: Creative Heritage
Project type
Advice and Assessment
Date
2021 – 2024
Location
Melbourne
THE CHALLENGE
The Nicholas Building on Swanston Street is a unique creative hub in the heart of Melbourne. Its significance lies not just in its architectural fabric, but in the vibrant community of artists and makers who have occupied it since the 1970s. The challenge was to ensure these intangible social values were recognised in formal heritage assessments.
OUR APPROACH
Founding Director Dr James Lesh prepared an up-to-date significance assessment for the building's tenants:
► Social Value Assessment: We documented the cultural history of the site, showing that its creative community is a key part of its heritage significance.
► Expert Advocacy: Heritage Workshop provided technical advice to the Nicholas Building Association, representing the tenants at a Heritage Council of Victoria hearing.
THE OUTCOME
Our assessment strengthened the case for the building's protection, ensuring that the heritage conversation included the people who make the place special, not just the bricks and mortar.
