Legion House

Legion House, constructed in 1902, is a textbook example of ‘creative adaptation’ – reinventing old spaces for contemporary use.

This modestly sized, four-storey heritage-listed structure began life as the YWCA’s Central Institute, functioning for more than 60 years as a women’s hostel and outreach service. As part of the new Liberty Place development, the building was adapted by architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) and reopened in 2014. On the outside, FJMT added two light, glass-faced storeys with pop-out spaces on two facades, one being a dramatic glassed stairwell and lift space. This ensured the building’s existing internal structure could be maintained. On the inside, spaces have been refurbished, with every effort to conserve the original eclectic mix of classical, Romanesque and Queen Anne styles while adding a complementary and contemporary layer.

The City of Sydney approved development on the condition that the space be donated to a not-for-profit organisation. The Ethics Centre now occupies a long-term lease over two levels. An impressive incorporation of energy sources allows the building to achieve carbon neutral status and operate off grid. The building generates its own energy through a gasification system, and was constructed with sustainably sourced materials from demolition sites and managed forests. The walls of Legion House display a stunning collection of works by Australian artists, including Tracey Moffatt, Rover Thomas, Zhang Huan and Michael Cook, all on loan to The Ethics Centre.