Spatially Aware – Malvern Apartments by Conrad Architects

In designing the Malvern Apartments, architect Paul Conrad was inspired by the grand scale of the project’s surrounds, creating luxurious, modern apartments that complement the lifestyle and architecture of Melbourne’s inner south-east.

Tasked with designing apartments for an area defined by its stately homes, architect Paul Conrad used the character of his project’s surrounds as a starting point. Located in Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs, the Malvern Apartments reflect the grand scale of the homes they sit alongside. Fourteen carefully-appointed dwellings, each with soaring ceilings, full-height windows and finished in sophisticated, minimalist palettes, speak to the evolution of modern apartment living (now a far cry from the tight floor plans and small outdoor areas of their predecessors). Here, the apartments are cleverly laid-out, generously proportioned and uncompromising when it comes to design.

Tasked with designing apartments for an area defined by its stately homes, architect Paul Conrad used the character of his project’s surrounds as a starting point.

Beneath the Malvern Apartments’ striking façade, a cobblestoned pathway invites residents and visitors in from the street, where they are immediately met with the meticulous details and material finishes that define the project. The front entrance hints at what lies behind, its sleek timber lines, elaborate panelling and brass-detailed double doors setting a refined tone. It is grand without being ornate – its balanced, linear proportions and rich materials offering a study in subtle opulence.

This idea of restrained, quiet luxury continues throughout the Malvern Residences. White walls and light oak floors create a base palette on which textures are shrewdly introduced, adding depth and dimension. The use of brighter tones allows the natural light, pouring in from the apartments’ full-height windows, ample space to stretch out across tactile stone walls, smooth bench tops and timber cabinetry.

Located in Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs, the Malvern Apartments reflect the grand scale of the homes they sit alongside.

Here, classic ideas are given a contemporary edge, exemplified by the ensuites and bathrooms, where marble-topped vanities and freestanding baths are fitted with ultra-modern tapware, adhering to ideals of clean, precise design.

In the kitchen of each apartment, a stoic stone island honed from undulating Pietra Natuca marble stands as the pièce de résistance, highlighted by sleek, understated cabinetry, Miele appliances and aged-bronze taps. This is the heart of the home. It is the place around which family and friends will inevitably gather and, as such, it required a centrepiece that focused as much on functionality as it did on form.

This balance between the practical and the polished is something that Conrad Architects has managed with an expert hand. Each home in the Malvern Apartments presents as an impeccable base, rich with potential, offering an enticing prospect for future owners to come in and create their own versions of the architects’ vision.