The Next Era – Bourke 632 by Smart Design Studio

Despite being rooted in a rich commercial history, Bourke 632 demonstrates how a building can be thoughtfully reimagined to suit a private residence. A bold and considered reinterpretation of the studio’s former headquarters, the project offers a beautiful layering of the building’s colourful past and its present that reflects the needs of the new owners.

Occupying a revered corner position in Surry Hills on the sought-after Bourke Street, Bourke 632 is an honest representation of how architecture can blend the old and new in its raw exterior façade and modern interior. Previous renovations by Smart Design Studio added a rooftop, a contemporary steel and glass insertion within an existing masonry shell and reworked adjoining terraces with rear stables into contemporary offices with a living space and a basement. The most recent renovations now transform the former office space into multi-functional self-contained apartments.

The most recent renovations now transform the former office space into multi-functional self-contained apartments.

The redesign was grounded in a deep appreciation of retaining many qualities and the underlying spirit of the existing building. The ground floor office and rooftop apartment remain intact and true to their original intended functions. In addition, the working environment remains largely unchanged, and the ground floor maintains its outlook, ventilation and natural light.

However, some upgrades were crucial in nurturing a more sustainable, cohesive building. The first level and stables are completely remodelled into self-contained one-bedroom apartments for the clients’ grown children. In the stables, the meeting room is now a bedroom, while the former workspace has become a living and dining room. A lift has also been added that connects the ground floor to the penthouse apartment, which is accessible from the courtyard between the office and the stables, a breakout space that doubles as car parking. The roof was partly rebuilt, and all the glazing replaced with high-performance glass.

The redesign was grounded in a deep appreciation of retaining many qualities and the underlying spirit of the existing building.

The interiors have also undergone carefully considered additions. For example, new blinds were added to the glazed façades; a new bookshelf that emulates the original one boasts new drawer mechanisms, and a new refrigerator and freezer now sit behind new joinery panels. New lighting such as the Viabizzuno Barra D’orra benefits from LED technology, and the existing silver travertine flooring now continues down the entire stairway.

While the layouts of the apartments within the main building vary, they are married by a similar material palette and soft furnishings. A light palette dominates – oak floorboards and panelling feature throughout, and custom grey terrazzo lines the bathroom and is used for splashbacks in the kitchens and bathrooms. Furnishings are dominated by monochromatic and soft textures to complement lighter tones.

Smart Design Studio eloquently transforms its former headquarters into a cohesive and layered private residence. The designers’ palpable familiarity of the space invaluably informs a beautiful and functional design that will serve the owner’s family for generations to come.