Skip To Main Content
Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

A Product of

‘70s Renovation in Sydney’s Potts Point
HomesEditorial Team

‘70s Renovation in Sydney’s Potts Point

Australia

The renovation of a 1970s townhouse in Sydney’s Darling Point realises the potential of the structure’s spaces while updating its dated interiors.


Whilst a marked improvement on the dim, compartmentalised homes of previous decades, the ‘70s nonetheless suffered from marginalised functional spaces and a decided poverty in choice of finishes.

darling_point_3

Thus when briefed for this project, Interior Designer Michael Bechara and partner Axel Osborne were asked to focus on the layout of the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, and apply a modern touch to materials and textures throughout the home.

darling_point_2

The communal kitchen, living and dining area on the ground floor creates a luminous, open space that capitalises on the abundant natural light from the rear glass doors. The light pink sliding door elegantly separates the laundry area from this space, and adds a further material and colour dimension.

darling_point_10
Natural honed stone, oak parquetry flooring, steel and brass detailing alongside stark white surfaces result in a layering of textures and colours that give the interiors depth while retaining a clean, refined tone. A particular favourite of the resident is the brass shelving unit and range hood in the kitchen.
darling_point_9

The home owner had seen previous examples of Bechara’s customized lighting and asked him to design all decorative lighting for the home (with exception to the Erco track in the living room). These fuse retro and industrial elements, simultaneously referencing the period of the home’s construction and animating their environments with their unique forms.

darling_point_6

The project demonstrates the effectiveness of considered intervention in tired spaces, and how a firm grasp of elementary principles of layout, materials and light can dramatically transform interiors.

darling_point_4

Michael Bechara Designs
michaelbechara.com

Photography: Justin Alexander
justinalexander.com.au


About the Author

Editorial Team

Tags

AustraliaHome ArchitectureHouse ArchitectureMichael Bechara DesignsrenovationResidential ArchitectureSydney


Related Projects
Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

Order Issue