Union House Building and Cloisters Courtyard

The state heritage-listed Union House complex consists of a series of structures built in stages from the late-1920s through to the mid-1970s, resulting in a complicated historical and physical environment. At its heart is the historic Cloister, the central external space around which the complex is organised. Previously the heart of the University of Adelaide’s North Terrace Campus, this role had been supplanted.

The purpose of this project was to commence the buildings reactivation by converting external and internal spaces to house new active functions and to better integrate and connect these to the redeveloped Cloister. Swanbury Penglase were engaged in August 2018 with an integrated team of heritage, architectural, interior design, and landscape experts to make this objective a reality.

 The works focused on the ground floor spaces, including the reconfiguration of the Cloister and surrounding landscaped areas to better highlight the building’s fine architectural qualities and connect it to the wider campus. This is now an active and flexible space with the infrastructure in place to host a range of events. An important objective achieved was the provision of equitable disability access with the thoughtful and discrete integration of new services.

 The landscape design provides flexible event and formal spaces for students and staff, reflecting the heritage building’s symmetry and strong linear elements with large, intrigued pattern paving and lawn areas framed by the existing trees and covered arch walkway.