Past Meets Future – 15 Young Street by Richards Stanisich

Quay Quarter Sydney is redefining what an urban neighbourhood can be. Blending retail, work and residences in a two-block space that at once celebrates Sydney’s history and steers it in an innovative new direction for the future, this transformative city quarter in Circular Quay is repositioning life in the CBD. At the heart of it is 15 Young Street, a boutique apartment complex with interiors by Surry Hills-based design studio Richards Stanisich.

Walk through the doors and you’re greeted with the lobby – a calm communal space that offers a respite mere steps away from the city. Limestone and stucco plaster expresses solidity and depth, with chamfered details throughout that are minimal yet strong and striking in their effect. The angular ceiling is particularly dramatic, referencing Sydney’s natural stone cutaways and the surrounding historic masonry of Bridge Street.

The angular ceiling is particularly dramatic, referencing Sydney’s natural stone cutaways and the surrounding historic masonry of Bridge Street.

These details flow into the apartments, with added comfort and warmth to add a personal, homely feel. With natural materials of stone and timber along with detailed joinery, the apartments have a rich tactility. They’re contemporary with high quality finishes that make each space welcoming rather than austere. An additional sleek and luxurious sensibility complements the city location.

All of the apartments make the most of coveted harbour views, seamlessly connecting the apartment and the city so they almost become one. Large windows frame the harbour and flood each apartment with natural light, the interiors subtly changing with the nuances of the day – from dawn until dusk. The apartments are intimate and private yet the cohesiveness with the building creates a sense of community and of being a part of something new and forward-thinking.

The apartments are intimate yet the cohesiveness with the building creates a sense of community and of being a part of something new and forward-thinking.

This focus on natural materials and modern interiors, with subtle references to 15 Young Street’s environment, encapsulates what Quay Quarter is all about: a celebration of heritage, of place and what stood before it, combined with an optimistic, new vision and reimagining of what’s to come for the city.