CHROFI converted a nondescript 1980’s commercial building into a thriving mixed-use development comprised of five, three-bedroom, loft apartments sitting above ground floor commercial premises.
The existing building presented an overly wide street address that was incongruent with the scale of the rest of the street.
The setback of the existing building from the road also created a poorly defined and out-of-scale pedestrian experience, preventing the building from meaningfully contributing to the life of the street and the nearby ‘five ways’ intersection.
The CHROFI design addresses the building’s incongruent scale by inserting juxtaposed architecture into one side of the building’s frontage, thus changing the scale and expression of the building to better suit the rhythms of the street.
The addition is confidently contemporary yet derives its form from the geometries of the existing building.
The profile of the existing structure was extruded to the prominent street alignment to accommodate a protected outdoor dining terrace on the street level.
This terrace contributes to the activation of the street while creating an intimate outdoor dining experience.
The apartments above are split over two levels utilising the unique pitched roof to gain generous double-height spaces and bring light into the scheme.
The interior design reflects a minimal, clean yet warm interior with timber floors, exposed brick walls, and custom internal windows.
The CHROFI design team deployed a minimalist design approach to keep the project within a modest budget.
As such, many of the building’s core attributes in section and materiality remain evident in the final outcome but have been given new context and value through the careful placement of new elements.
Project Details
Project Size – 1,220 m2
Site Area – 1,220 m2
Completion Date – 2017
Building Levels – 3
Project Team
Architecture
CHROFI
CHROFI is an architectural practice based in Sydney with a portfolio of international award-winning residential, public, and commercial projects.
Photography
Simon Whitbread
Simon is a Sydney-based commercial photographer specialising in architecture and interiors.
Photo Gallery
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Design © 2022 CHROFI. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Simon Whitbread. All Rights Reserved.
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