On principle

Large balconies, comprehensive soundproofing and an emphasis on space just some of the functional design elements integrated into these riverside apartments

Cygen Crawley Edge Apartments have 50m² balconies that apartment, architecture, condominium, daylighting, estate, floor, house, interior design, penthouse apartment, property, real estate, sea, sky, window, black — Cygen Crawley Edge Apartments have 50m² balconies that are designed to obscure unsightly views and noise from the nearby road.

Built to make the most of river views, architecture, building, daylighting, facade, house, roof, sky, structure, blue

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A 25m double-lane swimming pool is located in cloud, estate, home, horizon, house, leisure, ocean, palm tree, property, real estate, resort, sea, shore, sky, sunlounger, swimming pool, vacation, water, blue

A btriple-sealed and doubled-glazed glass wall maintains temperature ceiling, interior design, living room, penthouse apartment, real estate, room, suite, window, brown

While a new building may be recognised for the look of its exterior structure, the overall success of the design lies in the execution of both exterior and interior spaces and the integration of functionality with comfort.

"So much of what is acknowledged as good architecture is impressive from the outside, but not entirely comfortable to live in," says SC Land co-director Lance Chu who, along with Chenghan Tan, developed the Cygne Crawley Edge apartments in Perth.

SC Land's focus on achieving a high standard of comfort in the interior, using the basic principles of view, cool, quiet and space, saw the company win the Australian Apartment Project of the Year at the 2007 Housing Industry Awards.

However, the riverside project was not without its challenges, says Chu.

"For panoramic views, the 40m frontage was an advantage. We knew that to maximise views, the building would be comprised mainly of glass, but that this would influence the sound quality of the apartments and privacy of the residents."

To avoid creating one large building, SC Land designed two smaller seven-storey masses separated by a glass lift lobby. Each block has one apartment per level, and a 50m² balcony wraps around each apartment. The balconies are modulated to obscure road views and enhance river views.

The smallest apartment is 234m² while the penthouse is 309m². All apartments have 3.1m-high ceilings and 2.7m-high doors. Rather than build to the maximum permissible height, SC Land created wide apartments with river views from every principle room.

"The apartments look hunkered down, which creates a sense of balance and permanence," says Chu.

Each balcony has been designed to provide generous space for outdoor entertaining. Freestanding glass balustrades combined with the solid concrete upstands creates a sense of privacy and solidity.

For effective soundproofing, G. James French doors were installed with 12.38mm-thick, triple-sealed glass, while the floors, window frames and major services are fully insulated.

This insulation has the added advantage of helping maintain the controlled temperature of the commercial grade VRV air conditioning system. The appliances are discreetly integrated and out of sight, to provide an uncluttered and comfortable interior.