Inside 47 Easey Street
47 Easey Street, Collingwood during Melbourne Design Week 2025. Photography by Griffin Simm.
A year into the life of BAR Studio’s collaborative Melbourne hub
When BAR Studio set out to adapt a landmark Collingwood warehouse as its new base, the mission was not only to repurpose it sustainably, preserving the iconic industrial building, but also to continue its legacy of creative collaboration and artistic experimentation in the spirit of its prior occupants, which included Australian street art pioneer Everfresh Studio and community radio station PBS.
A year on since BAR Studio moved into the transformed space, 47 Easey Street has taken on a new life as the home of our studio and a roster of like-minded creatives, shaping an ongoing contribution to the local neighbourhood and Melbourne’s design and arts scene.
Encouraging inspiring connections with the city’s creative community was central to the vision for 47 Easey Street. While BAR Studio occupies the upper floor, a curated group of accomplished tenants has taken up residence on the expansive ground floor below.
"In this next chapter for BAR, we are excited to be broadening our local collaborative base. To foster new creative exchanges between local designer-makers and global client and fabricator partners we have forged relationships with over our first two decades,” says Felicity Beck, co-founder and Managing Partner of BAR Studio. BAR Object, our studio’s creative workshop, is also located on the ground floor amongst the creative community, with exciting in-house collaborations already underway.
The gallery space of BAR Studio. Photography by Peter Bennetts.
Creative community
Alongside BAR Studio and BAR Object, our five neighbours include Agency Projects, a not-for-profit, which celebrates Indigenous voices in the arts and environmental sectors. The organisation promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and people on a local, national and international scale, continuing Collingwood and adjacent Fitzroy’s long heritage of Aboriginal activism. Agency Projects’ initiatives range from built commissions to exhibitions, forums, talks, digital resources, publications and residencies.
Award-winning interior designer Danielle Brustman won the 2018 Rigg Design Prize for her striking spaces. Danielle specialises in residential interiors, but works across a broader spectrum, creating commercial designs for education, hospitality and retail. A flair for vibrant colour, materials and form defines her distinctive aesthetic. She also creates bespoke furniture, lighting, objects and installations.
Contemporary art gallery Sarah Scout Presents showcases some of Australia’s leading artists, including Fiona Abicare, Anna Finlayson, Tony Garifalakis, Claire Lambe, Sally Smart and Christian Thompson AO. The established gallery curates a compelling annual program, sharing critically engaged and conceptually driven work with the public.
Useful Objects is another neighbour whose championing of Australian design is close to BAR’s heart. The gallery works with some of the country’s most exciting contemporary designer-makers to provide a platform for collectible pieces, acting as a hub for the public to discover and purchase works by diverse talents including Trent Jansen, Marlo Lyda and Dean Toepfer. Furniture, accessories and design-art objects can be viewed at the showroom, online and via on-site exhibitions.
Locally based yet international, production-led creative agency Whale is another kindred spirit. Co-founders Melburnian Rachel Perry and New Yorker Ezra Xenos opened Whale’s debut APAC office at Melbourne’s 47 Easey Street after starting out in Amsterdam. The group and its network of partners deliver world-class work for global brands, with premium clients including adidas, Diageo, Johnnie Walker, McLaren, Montblanc and Turkish Airlines.
Photography credits
1. Blue Tree Studios
2. Nicholas Mahady
3. Kevin Li
4. By Useful Objects gallery
5. Sean Fennessy
6 - 12. Griffin Simm
LEARN MORE
BAR Studio’s culture-loving team is thrilled to be a stone’s throw from the inspiring exhibitions and happenings at 47 Easey Street. Learn more and follow the community news and events on the 47 Easey Street website.