Celebrating craftsmanship, innovation, and collaboration, Port Adelaide-born taproom Pirate Life has thrown open the doors to its first gastronomic brewery in Victoria. Transforming a former mechanic’s garage with contemporary flair, the 490-square-metre venue establishes itself as a quintessentially ‘Melbourne’ brewhouse.
Honouring Pirate Life’s bold vision and strong branding, South Australian architecture practice Studio Gram has masterfully transformed this former industrial building, leveraging its original character while echoing the brand’s roots. “We were fortunate to be presented with a site full of existing narrative and connection to place,” shares project architect, René Majewski. Housed within the skeletal frame of the former garage, Pirate Life’s Melbourne home reflects the creative vision of its founders. Light boxes, recurring mural motifs, and ale-coloured welder’s curtains cleverly reference both the site’s automotive history and Pirate Life’s foundations in old-school hospitality and contemporary street culture.
The adaptive reuse of the former industrial building demanded a skilful balancing act: navigating present-day regulatory frameworks, multi-national stakeholder requirements, and post-pandemic budgetary constraints. The resulting space successfully leverages the existing structure’s inherent character, harking back to the brand’s origins in the early industrial landscape of Port Adelaide, but now firmly planted within a Melbourne context. This delicate interplay between past and present is a defining feature of the design.
Strategic augmentations to the existing facade have reintroduced natural light, restoring the building’s connection to the streetscape. This revitalisation of the public interface is further enhanced by a large olive tree and smaller planters crafted from repurposed stock troughs, softening the post-industrial character of the interior and providing a welcome touch of green. Perhaps the most compelling intervention is the repurposing of the existing mechanic’s pit. Rather than concealing this relic of the building’s past, Studio Gram has transformed it into the footprint for a new dining area, suspended above the pit. This ingenious move not only creates a unique dining experience but also powerfully layers present and former uses, reinforcing the notion of history as a continuum. It’s a tangible reminder of the site’s evolution, a palimpsest of industrial activity.
The project’s commitment to local craftsmanship is evident throughout. South Australian and Victorian artisans were engaged to help root the beer hall in both local heritage and the creative landscape of Port Melbourne. This emphasis on local talent adds another layer of authenticity to the project, connecting it to the community in a meaningful way. The use of raw fittings and self-finishing materials extends the hardwearing urban palette throughout the ground floor, intentionally blurring the lines between interior and public realm. This seamless integration further reinforces the building’s connection to its urban context.
Pirate Life Melbourne is more than just a brewhouse; it’s a carefully crafted narrative woven from industrial heritage, contemporary design, and local artistry. Studio Gram has successfully navigated the complexities of adaptive reuse, creating a space that is both respectful of its past and vibrantly relevant to the present. The result is a compelling example of how architecture can breathe new life into existing structures, creating spaces that are not only functional but also rich in meaning and character.