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Pushing the boundaries from Apartment & Living Trends volume 2601
At a glance, it is easy to spot the point of difference in this apartment interior – there are no obvious doors. All the doors are concealed and the floor plan is defined by an open, flowing layout that poses no restrictions on the use of the space.
And that is just the way the owners like it. In designing their own apartment in Sydney's iconic Horizon building, architect Mark Broadley and interior designer Aaron Stewart wanted to encapsulate the essence of the avant-garde nature of the building, which was designed by renowned local architect, the late Harry Seidler.
"Apartments interiors can be very generic, which is how this space looked before the renovation," says Broadley. "We wanted something a lot more personal and bespoke, and very distinctive."
Maximising the space and storage facilities was also a priority for the designers, but they didn't want the storage to be an obvious feature.
The solution was to gut the apartment to create a more open, flowing interior that would be well suited to entertaining. Internal walls were replaced by storage units, so the walls themselves are now concealed cabinets.
"Visual continuity was essential," says Broadley. "We have restricted the material palette, so the same dark-stained wood veneer continues throughout the interior.
"The sleek, uncluttered look is also a response to the building form. We wanted to relate the interior architecture to the exterior. The simple, unifying material palette is part of this evolutionary process."
The architect says the entry needed to make a particularly strong design statement.
"We wanted the door to open to something dramatic and glamorous, hence the mirrored wall and marble countertop. Throughout the apartment, mirrored walls help blur the edges of the space, by making the corners appear to dissolve. They also reflect the expansive city views and enhance the natural light and sense of space."
Another key feature that comes into focus at the entry is an internal box that houses the guest suite and a bar. Wrapped in timber veneer, this box-like element is defined by coloured LED strip lighting along the bottom of the perimeter walls.
"The lighting reinforces the linear look of the interior, particularly the horizontal lines that define the space," says Broadley. "Even the new air conditioning grilles have been designed with this horizontality in mind."
In keeping with the desire to conceal storage facilities in the apartment, the bar in the internal box element is hidden behind timber panels. Flush sliding doors also conceal a niche for a television on another wall, which comprises fabric panels.
To add visual interest, one storage cabinet in the living area is a seamless, white unit with negative detailing. The cabinet sits beneath a window, bordered by mirrors of a similar height. These reflect the view and make the window appear as a continuous band along the wall.
Spaces were also designed with flexibility in mind. The second bedroom doubles as a study, or it can be opened up to serve as a dressing room for the master suite.
The main bedroom echoes the seamless look of the rest of the interior – even the door to the bathroom is concealed.
"We like the idea of adding a touch of mystery," says the architect. "If you can discover things gradually, an interior seems all the richer."
In the master bathroom, a wall of one-way glass also challenges traditional expectations. The glazing in the shower allows the owners to see right through the apartment to the view beyond.
"In many ways, the design is reminiscent of a resort hotel, which enhances the glamour," say the owners.
Sleek timber veneers introduce a distinguished look to this remodelled apartment. A mirrored wall and marble shelf add a touch of glamour to the entry.
Designed by architect Mark Broadley and interior designer Aaron Stewart, the walls are highlighted by LED strips and fluorescent lighting concealed in bulkheads.
The interior provides a quiet backdrop to the expansive views.
The kitchen is open to the main living area, but designed to hide clutter. A series of photographs of the city by night, by Sydney artist April Mountford, define the passage from the entry.
Positioned on the northeast corner of the building, the living room has a double aspect. The window on one wall is framed on either side by matching mirror panels, which create a band of glass along the wall. Mirrored walls feature throughout the apartment, reinforcing the glamour and enhancing the sense of space. The designers say the mirrored walls also heighten the effect of the view.
Deep walls conceal a range of storage facilities. The bar beside the kitchen is hidden behind the timber panelling, while full-height fabric panels next to the dining table open to reveal a large niche that could be used for a television.
The continuity of materials extends to the main bedroom, which also features timber panelling and built-in furniture. Bedside table tops are a similar marble to the kitchen bench and entry shelf.
A concealed door in the wall of the bedroom opens to the ensuite.
One wall of the shower features one-way glass, allowing a view through the apartment to the harbour.
Credit List
Architect
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Mark Broadley, Giles Tribe Architects (Sydney)
Interior and kitchen designer
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Aaron Stewart, Aaron Stewart Design
Living furniture
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Albi modular suite by Norman and Quaine, from Living Edge
Dining furniture
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Custom-made table top from Laminex Freestyle solid surface, with Eames legs; Series 7 chairs from Corporate Culture
Lighting
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Minimal from Light2; Slimdim from Sylvania Lighting; LEDs from Light Project; joinery lighting from Gineico
Benchtops
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Stainless steel; Dark Emperador marble; Laminex Freestyle solid surface
Bathroom vanities
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Custom Laminex Freestyle solid surface
Tapware
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Vola from Candana
Bathroom lighting
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Minimal from Light2; Rain Shower from Gineico
Flooring
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Dark Emperador marble tiles from Classic Ceramics
Bathroom wall linings
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Colourback glass and mirror from Paddington Glass
Story by Colleen Hawkes
Photography by Mark Mawson
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