Loft Residence
Set within a former Surry Hills warehouse, Loft Residence is enriched by its urban setting. Designed by Oliver Du Puy Architecture & Interiors, the minimalist home explores how architecture, art and materiality can inspire reflection.
The original structure of Loft Residence dates back to the early 1900s. Its stone walls and concrete columns recall the construction of some of the city’s leading restaurants, art galleries and hotels. The renovation brief drew inspiration from the architectural clarity of Donald Judd’s 101 Spring Street and the serene character of Kyoto’s classic ryokans. It also referenced the modern minimalism of Gae Aulenti’s Palazzo Pucci, which featured a single room clad entirely in stainless steel. Having chosen Loft Residence for its discreet location, the client requested that her professional ties to music and film be reflected subtly in its design; an adaptive sound system enables music to be played per zone, and a projector replaces the traditional television. Beyond these details, however, the home embodies a break from her industries.
To foster a peaceful environment, Oliver Du Puy draws on the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which embraces imperfection, transience and simplicity. Existing partition walls, false ceilings and multiple finishes – accumulated throughout the building’s storied history – were removed, revealing 100-year-old timber floors, concrete columns and beams. Forming a generous grid, the original structure accommodates rows of steel-framed windows that offer views of the city and flood the interior with natural light. New curved walls soften the interior expression, shaping spaces according to their function. The walls, together with concealed pivot doors, sit lightly within the existing framework, emphasising its grand proportions.
The interior design champions minimalism as a path to mental clarity. Across the pared-back forms, marble, oak and stainless steel coexist in harmony with the architectural envelope. In the bathroom, sinks rest upon self-supported marble plinths, while the walls in the kitchen are lined with stainless steel – an homage to Palazzo Pucci. Used for meetings, meals and storage, the kitchen conceals its appliances within seamless cabinetry, allowing a marble island, framed by octagonal columns, to take centrestage. Throughout the home, art fosters introspection, with works by Gideon Rubin and the late Lawrence Carroll among those displayed.
With its clean structure and honest materiality, Loft Residence embodies the spirit of its urban context. Through a dialogue between architecture, art and materiality, Oliver Du Puy Architecture & Interiors crafts the ideal space for self-reflection.
Architecture and interior design by Oliver Du Puy Architecture & Interiors. Artwork consulting by Andrew Jensen.
