Shell House
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Shell House stands as proof that heritage is not a constraint.
It is an asset.
LOCATION | Sydney Australia |
KEIM PRODUCT | |
BUILDER | |
ARCHITECT | |
INTERIOR DESIGN / FIT OUT | |
PAINTERS |
Originally constructed in 1937 to 1938 as the headquarters for Shell Oil Company, this Inter-War Commercial Palazzo building is now one of the city’s most ambitious adaptive reuse success stories. Integrated into the broader Brookfield Place Sydney precinct, Shell House has been carefully restored and reimagined as premium office and hospitality space, while retaining one of the tallest preserved heritage façades in the world.
In 2021, the project received the National Trust Heritage Award for Conservation: Built Heritage. A significant recognition of the collaboration between Architectus, Make Architects, GML Heritage, Woods Bagot, Brookfield Properties, Multiplex and the wider consultant team.
But awards only tell part of the story.
Heritage at scale
The engineering feat alone was extraordinary.
The 400-tonne clock tower was temporarily suspended over live construction.
The 65.5-metre heritage façade was braced while the internal structure was completely removed and rebuilt.
The building was transformed into 8,700 m² of boutique office space and multi-level hospitality venues.
All while preserving the original glazed terracotta façade that defines its character. Terracotta of this era is both beautiful and sensitive. It carries the warmth, colour and texture that make Inter-War façades so distinct, but it requires a coating system that respects its mineral nature. This is where mineral technology matters.
The role of KEIM Concretal-Lasur
For the masonry elements of Shell House, full opacity KEIM Concretal-Lasur was specified.
Concretal-Lasur is not a surface film. It does not sit on top like an acrylic. It bonds with the substrate through silicate technology, becoming part of the mineral surface itself.
On a project of this scale and significance, that distinction is critical.
Why full opacity Concretal-Lasur was the right solution:
Breathable protection
Heritage masonry must remain vapour permeable. Moisture trapped behind film-forming coatings leads to deterioration over time. KEIM’s silicate system allows the façade to breathe naturally.
Mineral compatibility
Terracotta and masonry are mineral materials. A mineral coating system respects that chemistry, rather than fighting it with plastic.
Longevity
Concretal-Lasur forms a durable silicate bond with the substrate. It resists UV degradation and maintains colour stability, reducing the maintenance cycle on significant buildings.
Visual cohesion
Full opacity allowed the masonry to be unified and refined while preserving its architectural expression. The result is clean, resolved and respectful. Not new. Not artificial. Just restored.
Revitalisation with integrity
Shell House demonstrates something important.
Heritage conservation is not about freezing a building in time. It is about extending its life with care. It is about understanding original materials and selecting new ones that honour them.
The conserved glazed terracotta façade and clock tower now anchor a vibrant hospitality destination. Four venues sit above the city, bringing new energy into a building that once housed corporate offices.
The building’s personality has evolved, but its identity remains intact. That balance is delicate. Mineral coatings support that balance because they work with the building fabric rather than sealing it away.
Heritage as an asset
Shell House is part of a broader renewal at Brookfield Place, revitalising the Wynyard precinct and strengthening connections between transport, commercial and retail space.
More importantly, it shows that heritage can carry commercial value. The preserved façade is not incidental. It is the focal point. The clock tower is not a remnant. It is a landmark. The building’s past enhances its present.
When working on heritage masonry, product decisions have long-term consequences. Choosing a mineral silicate system such as KEIM Concretal-Lasur ensures the substrate remains breathable, mineral and authentic.
A quiet contribution
At KEIM, our role on projects like Shell House is not to dominate the narrative. It is to support it.
Full opacity Concretal-Lasur helped unify and protect significant masonry elements without compromising vapour permeability or architectural intent. No plastic film. No trapped moisture. No visual heaviness. Just mineral to mineral.
Shell House now stands renewed in the Sydney skyline. A building that honours its past while serving a contemporary city.
That is what considered restoration looks like.
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