Just as a family tradition is passed down through generations, Abode Restoration is committed to preserving and reinvigorating the historic buildings built by our predecessors. Their business focuses solely on restoring heritage buildings rather than creating new ones, which requires a consistent degree of empathy to match the work of the original craftsman.
When founders Soma Giovannini and Tom Carson saw the demand for historic building restoration, they decided to use their experience in this area to start a business that respectfully restores the projects they work on. The team at Abode have been on this journey for nine years, and their work enables them to not only conserve the buildings themselves but also the skills previously used to create them, which they are equally passionate about.
There is no denying that this passion runs deep within Abode. They recently immersed themselves in statue conservation when restoring the Madonna of Bruges and St Joseph statues at the 153-year-old Immaculate Conception Church in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Their 40+ staff includes stonemasons, carpenters, bricklayers, solid plasterers, skilled labourers and apprentices. As their team possesses such a wide variety of skills, Abode can take on a range of projects with ease.
Abode has had the opportunity to work on one of Australia’s most iconic buildings, The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. They were tasked with restoring the light towers that surround the precinct. Being such a precious piece of history, Carson recognises the significance of the job. “It is not often that you get to completely rebuild such significant structures. It’s really an honour to be trusted with their care,” he says. The whole process was extremely intricate and involved many different techniques to repair the towers’ deteriorated condition. Carson ran us through the steps required:
1. They did a 3D scan of the structure and from that created shop drawings of each block.
2. They then created a mould in polystyrene using a CNC machine.
3. Next, they strengthened the mould with timber and steel formwork.
4. The new blocks were then poured using an aggregate of crushed granite and cement.
5. After they set, they then honed the surface of each block to bring out its unique look.
To juggle multiple projects like this, the company needed a fleet of vehicles that were up to the job. “We chose Mercedes-Benz vans because they shout excellence, which is the theme of our company too. We want people to see Abode Restoration and think of excellence – in look, in delivery and in performance,” Carson noted. He also touched on the parallels between the two brands. “The Mercedes brand is synonymous with classical quality, refinement and has timeless appeal, much like our beloved heritage buildings.”
One of the current projects that their Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito vans visit frequently is a striking heritage home in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Some of its features had fallen into disrepair, and it was painted in outdated colours. Abode came to the rescue and has been lovingly repairing and re-establishing its elegance over the past few years. Their Mercedes-Benz vans have played a crucial part in this restoration too – Abode optimised the rear load compartments with shelving to house the multitude of tools required for the job.
Not everything about Abode is focussed on the past however. Like many other businesses, they adopt modern technology to help keep everything running smoothly. From organisation to design, cloud-based software is used to allow greater flexibility and privacy for their staff. They also offer an online portal so customers can monitor their project’s progress. Tracking repairs to a century-old building via a smartphone – it’s a true blend of historic and modern.
Abode also recognises the juxtapositions and similarities between contemporary and classical ways of building. “I think the key difference is that today there is a strong emphasis on predictability and speed. Building today has become more industrialised, but I think that there is still tremendous skill poured into them,” Carson says.
Even though the way we build today is evolving, the work Abode does remains relevant. It enables future generations to see these works of art on a walk around the block, and we’re proud to have our vans supporting their team as they do such inspiring work.
Words: Isaac Sherburn
Images: Simon Shiff
Content commissioned by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd.