Part Time Lover is an adaptive re-use project of an old laneway kiosk

Part time lover is an adaptive re-use project by architects Sansarc Studio which upgraded an old kiosk in a laneway thoroughfare. The all day diner is nestled amongst some of the city’s most significant buildings and is a low-slung light-filled timber pavilion which was designed using passive design principles.

Timber framed windows make up the diner’s perimeter and they flood the space with natural light plus the openable windows are used to heat or cool the space. No air conditioning is installed in this project, so the cross ventilation and ceiling fans are used exclusively to cool the space.

Continuing with the adaptive re-use theme, the existing structure was retained with roof insulation added and the slate flooring was retained also. Where new materials were required, locally and responsibly sourced materials were used.

Sustainability specs:
– Adaptive reuse – existing structure retained, roof insulation added
– No airconditioning is used
– Passive design principles used
– Windows and doors were placed to introduce cross ventilation used for cooling, supplemented by ceiling fans
– Timber structure and timber used extensively throughout
– Existing slate flooring was retained
– Materials are responsibly sourced
– Organic waste is composted
– Operationally, the dinner doesn’t use single use plastic or cans, they have compostable coffee cups or reward you if you byo cup and one-third of the menu is vegetarian

Things perform really well considering that Part Time Lover originally had a glass roof. It goes to show that there are lot of decisions and design things we can do that don’t necessarily impact on the project too much financially, but really make a difference environmentally.