City Pad by Revel Design reconfigures a compact Sydney apartment with an incisive spatial strategy, improving its functionality while distilling a hotel-like sensibility. Situated within the landmark Observatory Tower, the 60-square-metre residence required a recalibration to accommodate its owners’ dual modes of occupation — serving as a retreat for business trips and a temporary home for a family of five.
Recognising the need for adaptability, the architects implemented a suite of interventions. A partition was removed to unify the kitchen and dining zone, fostering a fluid spatial continuum, while motorised window treatments and a centralised master switch heighten convenience.
The kitchen is anchored by a sculptural terrazzo island, its form accentuated by kit kat-tiled detailing. Battened Tasmanian oak lining boards envelop the space, imparting a tactile warmth that counterbalances the high-rise setting while subtly referencing the owners’ childhood homes.
Bespoke joinery conceals a pull-down Murphy bed within the dining area, flanked by a Heather Roseman Ceramic and ACDO case, while a mobile dining table on castors, accompanied by De la Espada Capo Dining Chairrs allows for dynamic reconfiguration. An extra-deep sofa provides additional sleeping capacity – adorned with Missoni cushions and Musselshell Throw by Case Studies – further reinforcing the home’s inherent adaptability.
Ebonised timber floors and crisp white tiles ascertain a monochromatic base, enhanced by Venetian plastered walls and an assemblage of furnishings in earthy hues. The bathroom is redefined through the replacement of an obsolete bathtub with a generous walk-in shower, while a leathered granite vanity — complete with dual basins — amplifies efficiency.
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