The adage less is more is often heard in the design landscape but perhaps it’s never been so literal as when it comes to apartment size. Today, small has shed its stigma and slipped into something more considered. A new generation of compact homes is less about compromise and more about choreography – where every inch earns its keep.
Double Bay apartment by Architect George
The design team at Architect George, having previously completed an extensive apartment renovation in Double Bay, were referred to the couple for this project. The firm undertook the redesign of the Double Bay apartment for a couple in their late 70s. Although they maintained the apartment in pristine condition, the clients refrained from remodelling the original design and layout originating in its construction in the 1980s.
The architectural language is a continuation of what previously existed, and Architect George’s team were challenged with accentuating the residences’ authentic character rather than altering it. Drawing inspiration from 1980s architecture and furniture design, bold-coloured carpets, mirrors, chrome accents and the extensive incorporation of granite textures were chosen to pay homage to the era. The design, while simple, was lacquered with a contemporary aesthetic without compromising the memory and heartiness the clients had loved for years. Architect George extended and modified the existing layout to create additional space and improve functionality, transforming it into an intergenerational home accommodating the clients’ extended family.
Wharf Apartment by Lawless & Meyerson
The Finger Wharf at Woollomooloo is a Sydney landmark, kept buoyed by public protest in the late 1980s following the brusque announcement of plans to demolish the heralded site. Originally constructed in the early 1900s by the Sydney Harbour Trust, the treasured wharf and passenger terminal has since been remodelled into a community precinct.
The alchemy saw the additions of listless, impudent apartments that flanked the water’s edge. And yet, the incongruous residences within the marina complex, with their inimitable character, sights and locale – positioned between the CBD and Potts Point – have become revered and highly sought after. Such is the case of Wharf Apartment by Lawless & Meyerson.
Cloud Surfer by Decus – positioned 36 floors atop Broadbeach – foregrounds sky and ocean outlooks with an eclectic coastal interior. Purchased off-the-plan, the apartment was listless and yearned for a gallant remodel that harkened to the couple’s identities and interests. “The homeowners were among the most trusting and easy-going clients we’ve ever worked with,” says Alexandra Donohoe Church, Founder and Managing Director of Decus. Residing in Singapore, the couple approached Decus to conceive a Queensland base to maximise time with their family and liberate themselves from metropolitan life. Their impending relocation accentuated the significance of the project, amplifying the need to curate a residence that would resonate deeply as a future home. This meant that “clients could ‘set and forget’ while travelling in the next phase of their lives.”
As it would appear, the clients’ were art aficionados with a particular, existing artwork of sentimental value becoming a catalyst for the redesign, informing “a series of dramatic moments that pull in texture, softness and warmth,” as Church explains. Works by Australian artists Regina Wilson, John R Walker, Mark Maurangi Carrol, Tamara Dean, Narelle Autio, punctuate the earthy palette of olive, blue, tobacco and ochre tones.
The intention was to design a home set against a neutral palette that transports you elsewhere and distracts from the feeling of being in Melbourne. McKimm’s reverence for the places he has forayed nationally and abroad carries through into his brief. Undeniably, a European flair and way of living have manifested in the design of MODA. With a background steeped in construction and design, “Nick carried a vast majority of the conceptual ideas and finishes,” says Isabella Cini, Senior Interior Designer and Stylist at mckimm. He also sought to design a home that complemented how he longed to live. “The home is refined yet relaxed,” he explains.
Set across two levels, the floor plan as configured to maximise space and blurs the lines between internal and external spaces. The lower level has been envisioned as as one large communal space that pivots around the kitchen, connecting with an outdoor terrace, barbecue space and pool. “On that level, it was paramount to Nick to balance relaxation and hyper-focused zones.” A study is etched onto the ground floor and, while it has a visual connection to the open layout, is separated by fluted glass doors lined with stainless steel. As the layout was designed to mimic McKimm’s daily routine, his choice to lead his morning with exercise is met with verdant views of the sunrise in the east from the higher level, allowing natural light to permeate through the skylights into the kitchen.
This is not, for the most part, an uncommon story. A tale of a professional couple – Stefania Reynolds, Head of Interiors and Project Director at Studio Johnston, and her husband – opting for the convenient location of an apartment over the extra size, cost or commuting time of a suburban family home.
Positioned within a 1980s complex in Redfern, the ground-floor aerie – which goes by the name of Maddison – is of enviable scale with ancillary building amenities, including parking and recreational activities nearby, as well as the offices of two busy working parents. A key asset of the apartment is its proximity to schools, parks, transport and a private courtyard orientated off the living room.
A dual, tactical intervention was devised to make the space work harder. The galley kitchen has been closed at one end and the adjoining dining room has been converted into a separate home office. This meant that “deleting that column in the kitchen opened everything up and unlocked the project,” explains Reynolds. “It allowed us to organise the main space into seamless, overlapping zones, like a Venn diagram of how we actually occupy the home.”
Rushcutters Bay apartment by Georgina Wilson Associates
In Rushcutters Bay, a 100-square-metre 1980s apartment stood in view of Sydney’s picturesque harbour – yet its interiors didn’t engage with the lush greenery and reflective waters beyond. Instead, it was a relic stuck in time with low ceilings, can lighting, an awkward layout and lacklustre finishes. While the balcony provided tranquil views and a treehouse-esque quality, it was due time to update the cramped, builder-grade two-bedroom unit for new owners.
The first task was reimaging the layout, which included “low, oppressive ceilings, unnecessary bulkheads and track lighting,” Wilson says. By stripping back these elements, reconfiguring the HVAC system, and adding a slim suspended ceiling to hide the wiring for the lighting, she was able to create a “space that felt taller, brighter and far more generous.”
Next up: Nine projects that connect to nature – one way or another