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Bayside Beauty – Sera Brighton by Lowe Living
Melbourne’s Sera Brighton by Lowe Living provides the perfect balance of convenience and tranquillity while paying homage to the previous building’s architectural identity.
Rooted in history but with an eye to the future, Sera Brighton – developed and built by Lowe Living – is a project with lofty ambitions. Designed by prestige architects Warren and Mahoney, and with interior design consultancy by Bec Judd and landscape design by Jack Merlo, Sera endeavours to enhance the street presence of Dendy Village and lead Brighton into a new architectural era.
“With Sera Brighton, we were fortunate to have three strong design collaborators in Warren and Mahoney, Jack Merlo and Bec Judd, and through their esteemed contribution, we were able to achieve a timeless architectural legacy for Brighton,” says Tim Lowe, Lowe Living’s managing director.
“This is the first development of its kind on this street, so we were very aware of the responsibility of setting the tone for future projects,” says Nick Deans, principal architect with Warren and Mahoney. “With this in mind, we focused on a soft and tonally layered palette with a warm mineral quality.” In nodding distance to Dendy Village and with Rustica Bakery & Cafe on the ground floor, the boutique 13-apartment building captures the essence of Brighton’s coastal cool.
The distinctive arch facade is a tribute to the site’s previous building, but as well as being a respectful nod to the past, the arches are also a succinct combination of architectural softness and stature. “They’ve been meticulously hand-laid to create a truly solid facade,” says Nick. “They are weighty, textured and provide substance to the structure, affirming its place within the context of the village.”
In terms of material selection, taking the lead from the bayside location helped to cement a sense of place. “The stunning ensemble of white brickwork, warm bronze framing and smooth concrete-finish balustrades add textural references to the unique topography of the nearby bayside shoreline,” says Nick.
“The stunning ensemble of white brickwork, warm bronze framing and smooth concrete-finish balustrades add textural references to the unique topography of the nearby bayside shoreline,” says Nick.
Creating cohesion with the exterior facade and continuing the sense of laidback luxury was the challenge undertaken by interiors consultant Bec Judd. “I wanted to deliver a soft tonal palette that gives the interiors a relaxed calming ambience and warm neutral tone, with a complementary mix of stones, timbers and tiles really elevating the spaces to feel luxe yet welcoming, sophisticated and unpretentious,” says Bec, who selected a timeless Tundra stone from Turkey as the feature material throughout, flanked by similarly warm and organic materials including walnut timber, textured porcelain tiles and graphite tapware.
Curved surfaces, inspired by the exterior arches, meld with the earthy tones to evoke a flawless calm. The curved motif is repeated throughout, from the plinths supporting the kitchen island to the curved TV unit and arched lights in the bathrooms. This cohesion was an essential element, says Bec, in “developing a design that exudes luxury through the finishes chosen and reflects the impeccable quality of the build while remaining a livable and comfortable place for someone to call home.”
The project creates a new architectural legacy for the bayside locale. “My favourite part about Sera Brighton,” says Tim, “was that we were given the opportunity to transform an iconic location and give back something beautiful, timeless and creative to the community.”
Development and build by Lowe Living. Architecture by Warren and Mahoney. Interior consultancy by Bec Judd. Landscape by Jack Merlo. Artworks by Antoinette Ferwerda.
