An Elevated Perch – Caroline Street Rooftop Apartment by Pandolfini Architects

Perched atop an existing 1970s apartment building in South Yarra, Caroline Street Rooftop Apartment is an exploration of space and volume. Pandolfini Architects responds to the existing context and its storied past through a formally reactive approach, offering a balance to its predecessor.

Located in Melbourne’s inner south, Caroline Street Rooftop Apartment sits within a bustling inner urban enclave of historical and contemporary residential, retail and hospitality offerings. Its location affords it the ideal positioning as a lofty residence with views that stretch outward and toward the city. Originally designed by prominent architect of the time Gaby Hubay, the building the new apartment is perched upon was built in the 1970s. Not just an architectural reminder of the time and its experimentation in materiality and shape, but building is also layered with a political past, as it saw one of the city’s first major terrorist attacks occur on the same top floor. The targeting of the Turkish Consulate at the time not only affected the building and its architectural intent but in a way was an opening for a rebirth and a fresh topping out. Pandolfini Architects takes reference from the site’s intricately woven past and weave its latest iteration with respect, while also offering a sense of balance.

Pandolfini Architects takes reference from the site’s intricately woven past and weaves its latest iteration with respect, while also offering a sense of balance.

As the apartment takes occupancy on the uppermost floor, the form and materiality become a conversation with the building’s past. In contrast to the heavily weighted envelope form, the new addition is deliberately lightweight and embodies its own sculptural sensibilities. With full-height glass windows looking out, views outward drink in the surrounding treetops and canopies, while showing glimpses of the built-up residential areas and prominent houses. In response to the rectilinear footprint of the building below, the apartment emerges as a curved walled series of spaces that are connected through their generous outdoor terrace space, while still protected from the elements due to a substantial overhang.

Carrying the same approach internally, a sense of the sculptural is found in many of the crafted elements, where each of the zones engage with a masonry or carved angular element in some way, while still maintaining an openness to its terrace and the surrounding views. Setting the envelope back from the perimeter emphasises the privacy afforded to its occupants, responding to its position as one of the higher reaching structures of the area. Taking inspiration from the eclectic energy of happenings below, colour, texture and form come together with restraint to allow an expression of its owners while still maintaining significant sightlines. The use of rendered walls, concrete, timber and stone all reference an enduring quality and longevity of the space as a home and add nuanced subtleties.

With full-height glass windows looking out, views outward drink in the surrounding treetops and canopies, while showing glimpses of the built-up residential areas and prominent houses.

Caroline Street Rooftop Apartment is a light and considered response to the building’s storied past. Pandolfini Architects brings a sense of balance through form and materiality, offering an enviable outlook from its enviable outpost.

In response to the rectilinear footprint of the building below, the apartment emerges as a curved walled series of spaces that are connected through their generous outdoor terrace space, while still protected from the elements due to a substantial overhang.