Summary & Our Responses To
STAR Project
Makerhub
Digital Farbication & Maker Space
The Makerhub project aligns with the STAR framework by transforming an existing Burwood structure into a low-impact, flexible maker space. Core materials like concrete floors and steel framing are reused to reduce waste and cost. New additions are modular and demountable, allowing future adaptation. The space supports workshops and hands-on learning through adaptable layouts and multipurpose zones. Addressing a local gap, Makerhub provides tools, training, and creative opportunities for students, entrepreneurs, and the community, activating the site through inclusive programs and partnerships.
SOOP
Study Lounge
The SOOP Study Lounge, developed in response to the STAR program, aims to enrich the cultural landscape of Burwood by creating a shared space that connects the youth community of Sydney. The name “SOOP”, meaning “forest” in Korean, reflects our vision of offering a calm, restorative environment where individuals can grow, explore ideas, and find their rhythm in a peaceful setting. We envisioned a cozy learning space thoughtfully designed to nurture focus, creativity, and comfort within the bustling urban environment of Burwood. The space draws from Korean cafes' quiet yet welcoming atmosphere, balancing functionality and warmth with the Council’s vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and connected Burwood business district.
Vietnamese
Pottery Studio & Cafe
To align with the Sustainable Temporary Adaptive Reuse (S.T.A.R) framework, the Vietnamese Pottery Studio & Café has aimed to repurpose leftover materials from demolition into functional interior elements, and reuse as much of existing structure such as concrete floorings and ceiling, window benchtops, etc. as possible to minimise both waste and cost. Timber removed from demolished walls is repurposed into shelving for the studio, serving both aesthetic and sustainable purposes. Meanwhile, waste from unused plasterboard walls is crushed into fragments and mixed with paint to create textured wall finishes.
Rêverie
Cinema & Bar Lounge
To align with the S.T.A.R framework, the Reverie Cinema & Bar Lounge prioritises material reuse and temporary, low-impact design strategies. Existing kitchen cabinetry and structural components are carefully repurposed within the new fit-out to minimise waste and cost. The layout is designed for flexibility and easy disassembly, allowing the space to adapt or be removed over time. By transforming an underused site into a relaxed venue for film, music, and gathering, the project supports local culture while demonstrating how thoughtful reuse can bring dormant spaces back to life.
Solace
Bathhouse
Our project ‘Solace’ has been shaped in accordance with the Sustainable Temporary Adaptive Reuse Toolkit (S.T.A.R.). It is a paradigm that prioritizes sustainability, accessibility, and community impact while addressing contemporary urban issues including vacancy and underutilized commercial spaces. In keeping with S.T.A.R.'s tenets, Solace Bath House provides a chance to test out innovative ideas and designs that benefits the community, without committing to long-term structural change. The goal is to prolong the site's life, minimise material waste, and save the environmental costs associated with demolition and new construction by working with what currently exists rather than against it. Thus, through 'Solace' existing materials such as structural beams have been re-used and repurposed to allow for an aesthetic design.
pulse
Wellness Studio
pulse was developed in response to the STAR program, aligning with its values through the revitalisation of an underused interior at 1–17 Elsie Street, Burwood. Designed as a wellness hub, pulse supports mental and physical well-being with flexible, inclusive spaces for yoga, meditation, and stretch classes — especially during non-traditional hours. Responding to a local gap in accessible wellness infrastructure, it offers a warm, calming environment open 24/7, catering to young people facing work and study pressures. Minimal interventions and material reuse ensure sustainability while attracting new users and fostering ongoing community value. By activating the site day and night, pulse also contributes to the Burwood After Dark initiative, promoting social connection and inclusive urban renewal. Through this, pulse exemplifies the STAR vision: sustainable, adaptive, and socially meaningful reuse of space.