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Creative change fills historic space

02 November 2009

Creative businesses are moving to take inspiration from the historic timbre of one of Port Adelaide's most prominent and heritage-laden buildings.

Space that was once bustling with shippings agents waving bills of lading from around the world and local newspaper editors with visors and sharpened pencils is now alive with the ebb and flow of ideas and the flicker of large design screens.

"We are now finding a new use for what was once chronically under-used office space and it is an exciting development," Ripple Artists Studios' Graham Rees said.

"There is ideal accommodation in Port Adelaide buildings like this one for artists and related businesses such as Soapbox Design, which is a graphic design and creative solutions company."

"This change is just the sort of thing that is bringing life back to the Port, as well as residential and tourism development. Local businesses, property owners and individuals are key to the regeneration of the area, which they can see has so much to offer," he said.

Soapbox is among tenancies from the design and arts sector that have moved into the refurbished 19th century building, where 10 of the 13 newly-renovated rooms and gallery spaces are now leased.

The space, on the first floor of 212-220 St Vincent Street, now renamed Kyle Street Arts and Multimedia Studios, had been vacant for 17 years - until Port Partnership made the connection between the building's owner and Mr Rees.

Mr Rees is driving efforts to find new arts-based tenants and creative professionals to take space in the building and has replicated his own successful Ripple Artists Studio, in the nearby Ezywalkin' Building, in the new Kyle Street Studios.

The building is in a prime location in Port Adelaide on the corner of St Vincent Street and Commercial Road - opposite Black Diamond Corner. Completed in 1885 when Port Adelaide was a hive of retail and business activity, its occupants have included jewellers, drapers, newspaper offices, shipping agencies, accountants, lawyers and even Birks Chemists at one time.

"There are lots of historic buildings in the Port and you can feel the difference working in them, so it's good to see the arts and design sector helping to revitalise the area," Mr Rees said.

Adam Terry and Raymond Capozzi have recently established Soapbox Design and think their surroundings in the refurbished premises are ideal.

"As a new creative agency just starting up, it's great to be among other people and businesses of a similar nature - and we needed a place with affordable rent to start our business," Adam said.

"It is ideal to be in an historic but refurbished space. We find this type of building and its atmosphere nourishes creativity in a way that a new all-glass office block simply cannot."

Port Partnership's André Stuyt said: "The Port Partnership applauds the property owner's investment in the refurbishment of the first floor of this historic building and the work of Graham Rees to coordinate trades and attract artists and creative businesses as tenants."

"One of the challenges facing the Port and its revitalisation is finding new and adaptive commercial uses for many of its historically significant yet underused buildings - this is one among many refreshing and new answers," he said.