Machine Hall
SubStation No. 164
An urban cultural venue
Machine Hall is an urban cultural venue within SubStation No. 164, the former electricity substation on Clarence Street, Sydney. Revitalised after more than thirty years of dormancy through a collaboration between the City of Sydney and Built, it is purpose-built as a stage for events, activations and experiences, from cultural programs and festivals to weddings, private functions and product launches.
Adaptive reuse of industrial architecture
fjcstudio’s interiors team approached the hall as the adaptive reuse of industrial architecture: high-performance contemporary interiors set within rigorous heritage conservation. The 12-metre-high ceilings, gantry, machinery and original hydraulic lifts remain, and interventions are carefully minimised to respect the integrity of the space and maximise its adaptability. A fully equipped kitchen and bar, and an elevated mezzanine with views across the hall, support events of every scale.
A public asset
Rather than another bar or restaurant, fjcplace and the City of Sydney envisioned a cultural space for public engagement and an enduring public asset. Machine Hall now offers free and subsidised venue hire to artists, creatives and innovators, and hosts fashion runways, dance performances, yoga classes and Vivid Sydney events.
Read more in Insights: Expert-led tours of The Cutaway with Museums of History NSW; LUMINA opens at The Tasman, Parliament Square; “taking your beautiful tangible creation and bringing it to life with the intangible, through creativity, experiences and human connection.”.
Awards
| 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) | Award for Commercial Architecture | |
| 2023 | Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) | Award for Creative Adaptation, Heritage Architecture | |
| 2022 | Australian Interior Design Awards | Sustainability Advancement, joint award (Built Head Office) | |
| 2022 | World Architecture Festival | Completed Buildings: Office, shortlist | |
| 2022 | World Architecture Festival | Futureglass Prize, highly commended | |
Press
| 16 Sep 2026 | The Local Project | Machine Hall by Hunger | |
| 4 Jun 2024 | Broadsheet | Machine Hall Is Sydney’s Newest Cultural Precinct, Hosting Gigs, Fashion Shows, Yoga and More | |
| 3 Aug 2023 | Architecture & Design | Machine Hall Precinct opening October 2023 | |
| 23 Jun 2023 | ArchitectureAU | ‘Beauty, delight and joy’: 2023 NSW Architecture Awards winners revealed | |
| 21 Sep 2022 | ArchitectureAU | Pathway to a dense, historic and beautiful city: Substation 164 | |
| 17 Jun 2022 | ArchitectureAU | 2022 Australian Interior Design Awards: Sustainability Advancement, joint award | |
