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New Age Longevity – High Street Apartments by Gardiner Architects
High Street Apartments, the first high-rise multi-residential project from Gardiner Architects, ticks all the boxes of new age city dwelling. The new building slots seamlessly into its established neighbourhood of Thornbury, with 13 apartments that are timeless, flexible, sustainable and designed for long-term occupation.
While the exterior of the building looms large, rounded corners and a considered, limited material selection ground it within the streetscape. Each level’s unique floor plan, and therefore window placement, make for an unexpected façade, while recessed balconies, tiled with terracotta, vibe with the red brick of surrounding rooftops. Sustainability has featured in the design approach from start (with a prefabricated cross laminated timber construction) to finish (with an average energy rating of 8.4 stars per apartment).
Inside the building, warmth is the prevailing feel in both public and private spaces, courtesy of material choices and natural light. A single central stairwell wraps around the lift. On the ascent, a column of glass bricks on the south stair façade filters soft sunlight onto the terrazzo stairs and the timber panelled walls.
Each apartment feels calm and airy and has been designed in response to its own outlook and orientation. The common threads among the residencies include open plan kitchen-living spaces and plenty of beautifully executed, built-in storage – including drawers, desk nooks, dressing tables and cupboards – in every room. Again, a limited material selection is employed, making for a fuss-free space: white walls, black fixtures and timber joinery. The result of this choice is an apartment pre-warmed with abundant natural light, ready to be made into a home – however that may look and feel for each resident.
