The Spirit of the 1960s – Brunswick Apartment by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

As an exploration in extending heritage narratives within Australian suburban areas, the reworking of Brunswick Apartment sees a respectful reinterpretation of its original era combined with modern sensibilities. Murray Barker and Esther Stewart fuse a celebration of the original proportions and detailing of the apartment with a nuanced and contemporary brief.

A familiar site, Brunswick Apartment sits fittingly amongst inner northern Melbourne side by side with similar exemplars of1960s medium-density housing. A remnant of the city sprawl of the time, the light-coloured brick apartment building was in need of renovation by its new owners. Instead of taking a more frequently travelled renovation path, the team worked to incorporate sensibilities that connect to the building’s original era. Avoiding replication, the reinterpretation takes place through a modern lens and with contemporary spatial planning and detailing. Esther Stewart and Murray Barker takes the untouched foundations of the 1960s apartment and reworks its internals to increase the cross functionality and open liveability of the shared spaces as the focus.

As the ultimate expression of its origins, the oversized and expressive terrazzo flooring references the 1960s.

Build by Lex Furniture and Ultimate Outdoor, Brunswick Apartment is a fused celebration of the past together with a considered understanding of how people live today. The bones of the original apartment were enlivened through access to natural light and formal delineation between active and passive spaces, while the dual frontage spaces were afforded natural ventilation and the opportunity to react to the sun direction and orientation. Creating a connection between the kitchen, dining and living spaces then became the main focus, and subsequently walls were partially demolished and new custom joinery used to conceal fixtures and amenity while ensuring the openness of the spaces was not interrupted.

Overhead, an opening in the previous roof and ceiling introduces natural light deep into the dining space. Connecting to the sky ahead and the changing climatic movements, an additional natural element is brought into the apartment, from above rather than eye level. As the ultimate expression of its origins, the oversized and expressive terrazzo flooring references the 1960s. The tonality of the custom kitchen joinery then sits in contrast with the warm and amber tones of the natural stone benchtop and splashback, bringing together high-quality materials and refinement together with the home’s narrative.

Built by Lex Furniture and Ultimate Outdoor, Brunswick Apartment is a fused celebration of the past together with a considered understanding of how people live today.

The renovation and opening up of Brunswick Apartment inject additional and considered layers into its already interesting and stylised narrative. Murray Barker and Esther Stewart brings a nuanced and respectful approach to context, creating a unique identity through its playful approach, resulting in a uniquely curious home.