Lighthouse

As derelict buildings are demolished to free up prime waterfront sites in our larger cities, modern insertions are now appearing in many older suburbs.

For the designers of this new apartment building in Maroubra Bay, Sydney, the opportunity to introduce a new architectural language did not mean the existing character of the suburb had to be compromised. In fact, the opposite applied, says architect William Smart of Smart Design Studio.

"We wanted to respect and acknowledge the urban fabric of the neighbourhood, which features many concrete buildings dating back to the '50s and '60s," he says. "These included the original apartment building on this site, which had fallen into serious disrepair."

Smart says the team also wanted to respect the existing views from the neighbouring properties.

"We undertook a view analysis study to see how these views would be impacted, how the new building would appear from different angles, and potential overshadowing problems."

Smart says the prominence of the site, on a rocky headland, was another key design influence.

"In design terms we were walking a fine line between creating a potential landmark and a private apartment amenity. We did not want a standout iconic form, but we did want the architecture to be a strong design response to the headland. Because of its position on a teardrop-shaped site with the road curving around the front of the building the profile was critical. We needed to provide a bold silhouette."

The solution was a four-storey building with a curved aluminium louvre element that wraps around a glazed facade on the eastern side. The exposed steel ribs of this structure form the ceiling within the top-floor apartment, which minimises the height of the roofing.

"The design meant we could fit a four-storey building into the space originally occupied by a three-storey building with a pitched roof," Smart says.

At the sides, the contemporary glass and aluminium louvre form is contrasted by a rendered masonry element, which references the traditional concrete buildings in the neighbourhood, while providing a new architectural vocabulary.

"The overall feeling of the development reinforces the relaxed beachfront lifestyle," says Smart. "But the curved forms, simple metallic and pre-cast concrete elements give it a strong clarity and point of difference from other apartment buildings striving for the same corner of the luxury market."

Smart says the two architectural volumes also define the different functions within the apartments. While the glazed elements accommodate spacious living areas and master bedrooms, the masonry structure houses additional bedrooms, lifts and the stairwell.

In keeping with Smart Design Studio's design focus, numerous sustainable design initiatives were incorporated, including energy-efficient fixtures and natural cross ventilation.

The building was designed to provide passive solar heating and cooling. While deep north-facing overhangs minimise heat gain in summer, they allow the sun to warm the interior in winter. The fixed aluminium louvres on the curved facade also act as a sunscreen and they provide a degree of privacy from the road below. In addition, there are adjustable vertical louvres on the north-facing bedroom window to screen the sun and provide privacy.

"Although there is a large area of fixed louvres on the front of the building, these don't really interfere with the outlook," says Smart. "The filtered part of the view is pure ocean and the horizon is clearly visible. The more complex views of the bay and beachfront are completely unobstructed by the glazing either end of the living space the southern wall is at a 45° angle to maximise this outlook."

Terraces at both ends also maximise the view the northern terrace is large enough to accommodate an outdoor dining table.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes