{"id":148895,"date":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/148895\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T04:03:16","slug":"kennedy-nolan-appointed-to-help-realise-masterplan-for-heritage-listed-arts-precinct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/148895\/","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy Nolan appointed to help realise masterplan for heritage-listed arts precinct"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne-based practice Kennedy Nolan has been appointed to progress the evolution of a masterplan for the historic Abbotsford Convent precinct in the city\u2019s inner northeast.<\/p>\n

The 16-acre convent site has been a place of enduring historical significance, currently serving as a multi-arts precinct. <\/p>\n

From 1863 until 1974, the site was home to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd \u2013 at the time, \u201cone of the largest charitable institutions in the southern hemisphere,\u201d a communique from the convent notes.<\/p>\n

\"From<\/p>\n

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In 2017, the complex was added to the national heritage list in recognition of its historical and architectural significance. A year later, in 2018, Kerstin Thompson Architects completed an adaptive re-use of the convent\u2019s Sacred Heart building<\/a>, which won a National Commendation for Heritage<\/a> at the Australian Institute of Architects 2019 Architecture Awards.<\/p>\n

In collaboration with specialist consultants, architecture practice Hassell were appointed to update the masterplan<\/a> for the site, then 15 years old, in 2022.<\/p>\n

According to the convent\u2019s communique, the appointment of Kennedy Nolan to assist in the realisation of the masterplan marks a significant milestone in the site\u2019s journey of renewal.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

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CEO of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Justine Hyde said, \u201cAbbotsford Convent has always been a place where heritage and creativity converge \u2013 partnering with Kennedy Nolan ensures that our built and natural environment will continue to inspire and serve the community while respecting the unique character of our beloved precinct.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a values-aligned local practice known for its sensitive, human-centred approach, Kennedy Nolan was a natural choice to progress this next phase of work,\u201d Hyde added. \u201cTheir appointment underscores the convent\u2019s commitment to design that is both forward-thinking and deeply grounded in place to create spaces that invite creativity, inclusivity and sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kennedy Nolan principal Rachel Nolan said the studio was honoured with the appointment. \u201cOur partnership with Abbotsford Convent is enormously satisfying to us, bringing together so many elements of intrinsic importance to our practice: First Nations priorities, repair of ecology, growing infrastructure for creative production, inclusivity and placemaking for Melbourne and its many visitors,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

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The convent\u2019s communique notes that over the next six months, Kennedy Nolan \u201cwill scope and prioritise key projects for development in realising the 2022 convent masterplan vision to protect and enhance the precinct for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

In June this year, Hyde expressed opposition to plans for the four-storey redevelopment of an aged-care facility<\/a> designed by Life Architecture and Urban Design (formerly CHT Architects) for Mercy Health, located adjacent to the heritage-listed Good Shepherd Chapel. The application is currently under assessment from Heritage Victoria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Melbourne-based practice Kennedy Nolan has been appointed to progress the evolution of a masterplan for the historic Abbotsford…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":148896,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[449,458,459,64,63,460,134],"class_list":["post-148895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-design","tag-entertainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}