A Sanctuary in The Sky – Parkside Apartment by Wolveridge Architects

Every home – irrespective of typology, context, or scale – should act as a sanctuary of sorts, a place to seek refuge, to feel protected, or to simply enjoy the everyday. One could argue that apartments, which are often built on communality and uniformity, need to work harder to achieve this. Parkside Apartment, a three-bedroom home in a 1980s-era residential building designed by Barry Patten – the architect behind the celebrated Sidney Myer Music Bowl – was calling out for help, and Wolveridge Architects has served it a reinvigorating hand. By adapting spaces and reworking dysfunctional elements, the architects have created a home that celebrates not only its unchangeable bones but its fixed typology too.

Acutely aware of the limitations surrounding apartment projects, Associate Director Will Smart and Architect Camilla McBeath of Wolveridge Architects were clear on the design intent from the outset. “The space initially felt very narrow and closed in,” explains Will. “The brief from the client was to modernise it, connect to the views, open the home up to the terrace and get some light and ventilation into the building.” Aside from installing new timber herringbone flooring throughout – no easy feat in an apartment but undeniably worthwhile for this project – the architects maintained a realistic approach to the scope of work, incorporating both transformative changes and clever tweaks.

“The brief from the client was to modernise it, connect to the views, open the home up to the terrace and get some light and ventilation into the building,” Will Smart, Associate Director at Wolveridge Architects says.

Removing a partition wall in the centre of the living space was a pivotal move. “Now, when you walk in the front door, you can see right out to Fawkner Park instead of having devices and structures in the way,” Will says. As well as this, the architects designed a row of pods which run the length of the apartment, concealing all existing heating and mechanical units and storage. Cleverly hidden away within this unit is a bar area with a Fisher & Paykel wine cabinet, and a walk-in laundry. Initially designed as a European laundry, some smart shifts resulted in a more generous space with a stacked Fisher & Paykel Washing Machine and Dryer, additional storage and a sink. This joinery unit is, in many ways, the spine of the apartment; it separates the open, shared spaces on the left from the two bedrooms, master suite and bathrooms on the right. It also guides you from the entrance to the far end of the home, simultaneously directing your gaze to the park beyond.

A series of existing round columns formed part of the “main structural skeleton of the building” and, therefore, could not be removed. Instead, the interiors and joinery celebrate this form, referencing it repeatedly; there is a curved tiled wall in the ensuite, rounded joinery in the kitchen and subtle concave forms throughout. Will says that while curves are often implemented for aesthetic purposes, here, the intention was to “pick up on the context of the existing building.” He adds, “they also have some practicality to them in that they were considered based on how you move through the home,” minimising corners and creating softer transitions.

“We ran through a consistent palette of blonde timbers, natural stone and shades of white, and then we introduced the soft grey of the joinery,” says Will, adding that “we didn’t want anything too dark and heavy – we wanted to lift the volumes.”

While there were planning limitations around the existing building fabric and services, Wolveridge has employed a variety of methods to improve the comfort and operational energy use of the apartment. New double-glazed windows are framed with high performance aluminium, and there is ample cross flow ventilation with thanks to operable sash windows. And, an extensive electrical and lighting upgrade ensures electricity usage is minimised with LED light fittings and smart home controls which limit energy usage when the home is not occupied. Weaving an environmentally conscious approach with considered spatial planning has allowed the architects to cleverly adapt this home. While harnessing its 1980s-era bones, it will thrive as a contemporary dwelling, catering to its residents’ lifestyles with ease.

The kitchen sits at the far end of the apartment and takes full advantage of the view with vast windows along one elevation and floor to ceiling cabinetry around an island bench. An automated servery window opens directly onto the terrace, creating a functional bar space ideal for entertaining. The architects selected a mirrored splashback; it is not ritzy or opulent, rather subtle in its reflection of Fawkner Park, bringing the surrounding green spaces and tree canopy into the compact room. A lightly veined marble spans the countertops, sitting comfortably with the minimal grey cabinetry and continued timber herringbone flooring. Curves have a place here, too. The rounded edges of the benches soften the entrance to the kitchen, gently guiding you across the threshold. The island bench also features an intricate concave profile, only visible from the back of the kitchen. It is in these smaller details – those which ask to be sought out and appreciated in their subtlety – which indicate the level of consideration behind this project.

The minimal materials selection channelled in the kitchen is prevalent throughout the entire apartment where a textural limewash wall finish adds depth in areas and timber is continuous and warm.

While the architects utilised the existing layout, a full suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances has been designed into the new kitchen. “We’ve been working with Fisher & Paykel for over six years,” reflects Will. “For this project, given our clients wanted to invest in a full appliance suite, we had the pleasure of collaborating with the Fisher & Paykel team.” Will also cites the importance of building relationships within the industry, saying “it is something we value as an office – it helps all involved to go beyond and deliver rewarding project outcomes for our clients.” Parkside Apartment features a Fisher & Paykel induction cooktop from the Contemporary Range paired with a two-burner Gas on Glass cooktop from the Minimal Range – an elegant combination upon request from the clients who are keen cooks – with an Integrated Insert Rangehood above. Sitting beneath the cooktop are two handleless 60cm Warming Drawers and a pair of black 60cm wall ovens, also from the Minimal Range, which the clients have described as “really terrific” after some use.

Complementing the sleek aesthetic, the Column Refrigerator and Freezer and dishwasher are all integrated, disappearing behind the grey cabinetry and supporting the light, uncluttered feel of the space. Having to connect to existing services posed some limitations regarding layout and appliance selection but the flexibility of Fisher & Paykel’s range – with various options around size, scale, finish and integration – proved invaluable. “The clients were after a large full-height integrated fridge and a slightly smaller freezer with a good amount of storage,” Will explains, noting the ability to select a large refrigerator and freezer suite and “tuck it away nicely” as incredibly useful.

The minimal materials selection channelled in the kitchen is prevalent throughout the entire apartment where a textural limewash wall finish adds depth in areas and timber is continuous and warm. “We ran through a consistent palette of blonde timbers, natural stone and shades of white, and then we introduced the soft grey of the joinery,” says Will, adding that “we didn’t want anything too dark and heavy – we wanted to lift the volumes.” Resultingly, the space is welcoming and open, combatting the confined feeling that is so often inescapable in apartment living. In complete contrast, the lobby area is coated in dark paint and dimly lit by ornate lighting fixtures; the experience of stepping from the lobby into the apartment is like rising out of a bunker into the vast open daylight. It is theatrical and transportive, and it intensifies the calm and restful energy of the apartment.

While the framework and surroundings of this home have not changed, the internal experience is unrecognisable from before. Now, the view can be enjoyed from a highly desirable vantage point; it is an apartment harnessing its potential with full force, embracing its 40-year history with fitting contemporary touchpoints.