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Tranquillity by Two — 73 Albert Street by Urban Habitats
Defined by light-filled spaces and biophilic design elements, 73 Albert Street sees Urban Habitats transform a pair of cream brick units into two modern compact homes.
The opportunity to design and build a home at 73 Albert Street in the Adelaide suburb of Goodwood was presented to Urban Habitats by its development partner, UH Projects. UH Projects identifies and procures underutilised properties in desirable locations, then facilitates their improvement and development in partnership with Urban Habitats.
As both designer and builder, Urban Habitats takes a holistic and collaborative approach that showcases not only design innovation but the quality craftsmanship of its dedicated trade base. That approach is beautifully encapsulated in 73 Albert Street, a project which confirms that well-designed and well-considered small spaces can feel not only seamless and spacious but comfortable, too. Providing architectural design, build cost estimating, interior design, building and landscaping, the group’s latest project injects a little patch of luxury to inner-city Goodwood.
The two brick units occupied a narrow restrictive block. Reimagining the traditional unit scenario, Urban Habitats has provided a new take on urban living by creating two homes. Architect Sarah Stephen says 73 Albert Street is “a great opportunity to provide the Adelaide market with a solution for a narrow block with good design as the focus”. From the street, the homes feature an understated slim-line brick façade, horizontal timber cladding and solid-oak front doors. Inside, polished concrete flooring, natural tones and stone benchtops form the dominant, minimalistic leitmotifs. They are complemented by restrained but luxurious interior detailing, with a simple, pared-back palette of materials working alongside intricate detailing to imbue a sense of warmth and comfort.
Most notably, the homes are defined by a strong indoor-outdoor connection. This is primarily achieved through a central courtyard at the entryway which injects an abundance of sunlight into the kitchen, dining and living areas and master ensuite. “The internal courtyard plays a really critical role as it gets light into the back of the house,” says Sarah. “The narrow northern frontage was a challenge as the sun from the north acts as a natural source of warmth in winter. So the aim of the internal courtyard is to ensure that as many areas of the house as possible get that natural light.”
Similarly, outdoor spaces are functional and beautiful, adorned with lush, low-maintenance plant selections. The outdoor entertaining area features “no-mow” grass, a fine-textured grass that only grows to about 10 centimetres in height. It can be left unmown to provide a natural ground cover or cut to create a dense surface underfoot, offering an attractive outdoor feature for minimal effort.
The homes’ calm, luxurious retreat-like feel is exemplified in the considered design of the spacious master suite, where a walk-through robe creates a seamless flow between bedroom and ensuite. In the latter, a muted earthy palette, soft pink tiles and nickel taps make for a zone that feels private, indulgent and peaceful. That sense of retreat continues throughout the home, with perforated metal screening offering additional privacy thanks to strategically sized holes that obscure views while allowing natural light to filter through.
An inspired reimagination of dated units into contemporary, light-filled homes that connect to the outdoors at every opportunity, 73 Albert Street envelops those who enter in its warm grasp – encouraging retreat, relaxation and repose. Here, Urban Habitats has demonstrated the power of restraint, and how beautiful cohesive spaces arise from a considered focus of wellbeing and functionality.
