GEORGE ROSE
ROOFTOP MURAL

a public art piece commission for the city of Melbourne

The rooftop of the former BMW site in Southbank has been transformed into a biophilic oasis with a large-scale mural by George Rose.

Commissioned by Beulah Foundation, the artwork aspires to promote art, well-being and sustainability, while advancing culture in and around the City of Melbourne.

The concept for the mural focuses on rejuvenating the current site’s urbanscape and will be complementary to the eye-catching Atong Atem mural that adorns the exterior of Hanover House, with both sites celebrating local female artists.

The vibrant piece adds colour and life to the area, aspiring to bring joy to workers, residents and visitors, especially those in surrounding tall towers who will be able to enjoy the rooftop mural daily. It helps to spark imagination of the integration of life and biophilia with the future built environment, enhancing the connection between people and nature in cities.

OUTDOOR LIVING, ATONG ATEM

a public art piece AT BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

Melbourne’s rising star Atong Atem, an Ethiopian-born, South Sudanese, Naarm/Melbourne-based artist was commissioned to animate two facades of the building showcasing how future expressions of art and culture can enhance and enrich daily life.

As part of our commitment sustainability, we incorporated low-VOC and low-energy consumption materials, while creating something special for the locale; a gift to the city to invigorate the urban environment and lift the spirits of society, at a time when Melbourne’s lockdowns were lifting and a sense of community was starting to reemerge.

SEEDS OF CHANGE
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

AUG 2023 – FEB 2024

“Seeds of Change,” was a transformative and immersive exhibition designed to highlight local and global food insecurity, while simultaneously exploring the future of retail. The exhibition was presented as an engaging guided tour where visitors experienced a weaving story scape that explores the impact Empower has had and how as a society, we have the opportunity to reimagine the relationship between consumerism and a giving mindset.

Brought to you by Empower Australia and the Beulah Foundation as part of the Lab for Positive Change series; this is one of many exhibitions that will offer benefits to the local community, whilst raising awareness on key societal issues.

Learn about our positive impacts achieved here.

HIGHER ORDER

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

A multi-sensory culinary voyage pivoting around a brilliant collision of art, food and drink, spectacular lighting design, ambient soundscapes and theatrical performance resulting in a truly memorable immersive dining experience. Featuring an exclusive menu curated by leading Melbourne chef, Scott Pickett; this exploration in the Future of Dining event was an ode to local produce, innovative ingredients and the circular economy.

In line with our mission of envisioning a future where retail spaces embrace sustainability in exciting ways, the fit-out is repurposed and reused with each new dining event – both reducing the need for unnecessary construction and demonstrating the profound potential of upcycling.

ATELIER

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

A radically reimagined maker’s experience; Atelier is an experimental workspace and artisan-in-residency programme where a cohort of Melbourne’s most innovative creatives push boundaries with brand partners. Working on full view to the public in a series of architectural glass cubes, this programme lifts the veil on the hidden processes behind the objects that make up our worlds, marking a return to slow design practice and craftsmanship in a throwaway culture that favours mass production and over-consumption.

• Artisans in residence

• Other Matter, an experimental studio working with algae-based bioplastics
• Cordon Salon, a practice that interrogates traditional thinking around art, craft and design through research, collaboration and play
• DNJ Paper, a practice who uses traditional Japanese paper (washi) in nontraditional ways of making paper clothing in response to pressing social, aesthetic, and conceptual questions related to contemporary fashion practice

FUTURE FROM WASTE LAB

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

Future From Waste Lab helmed by KITX, an experimental retail and production space turning textile waste into new garments tested a new way of circular retail, sustainable sourcing and fabrication, reducing landfill and exploring prototypes for future fashion retail, communicating waste as a credible, beneficial resource.

This disruptive and creative space provided guests an opportunity to witness how some of Australia’s leading fashion brands are participating in the circular fashion economy; turning waste into want. Past Future From Waste Lab Residents included: Romance Was Born, ArtClub by Heidi Middleton, KITX, Into Carry, HoMie, Esse, and Strateas Carlucci.

CREATIVE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

A series of hands-on workshops which tapped into both societies thirst for learning and desire to decelerate. Workshops were focused on using waste material to create new and therefore continued the theme of circularity.

A community space to connect, create and learn with sustainability in mind from exploring new ways to extending the life of garments to creating new and beautiful items using deconstructed fashion waste material or exploring the limits of cutting-edge fabrics like bio-textiles and circular materials like material waste.

CONSCIOUS MARKETS

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

A series of community markets that celebrates conscious designers who champion responsible and ethical methods of production and Melbourne’s most innovative local food, drink, wellness and home offerings, all of which operate with social, environmental and cultural currency in mind. 

CULTURAL COLLABORATIONS 

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

BETA has partnered with major cultural institutions like Open House Melbourne, Craft Contemporary, Melbourne Design Week and more, while providing support, resourcing and a large and engaged platform for some of Melbourne’s most talented artists and designers to be seen and heard while inviting the public in to learn and draw inspiration.

These initiatives have contributed significantly to the support of art and culture, a sector heavily damaged during the Covid period.  

BETA TAXONOMY + 
FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE 

BETA BY STH BNK, HANOVER HOUSE

Adhering to core principles of circular design, low-impact materials, green energy, accessibility, community, diversity, sustainable programming, fair practices, and waste management; Sibling Architecture, a highly-awarded collective, designed the BETA fit-out with a sustainability focus, repurposing existing materials and using eco-friendly bioplastics. Resulting in a groundbreaking, chameleon-like design, it allows limitless layouts.

This initiative prioritised landfill avoidance wherever possible by repurposing existing materials. A taxonomy of furniture and sets were created with the intent to provide a family of joinery that allow for a variety of uses, promoting conscious consumption and low environmental footprints; this approach embodies sustainability at every stage, setting a new standard for conscious design.

Learn more about it here.