Aerial by Nexus Designs

For this Melbourne apartment, Nexus Designs employs subtle shifts in colour and materiality to create ‘shades of experience’ in the context of effortless high-rise living.

Set on the traditional lands of the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation, Aerial is a 40th-floor apartment overlooking parklands, the Royal Botanic Gardens precinct and the Melbourne CBD. Nexus Designs has imbued the apartment with a sense of openness, comfort and intimacy, evident from the moment you step into the lobby. Neutral tones and subdued lighting accentuate both the fine texture of interior finishes and the contours of a dramatic artwork: echoing the line of the horizon, it’s a sign of the vista to come.

“We created a threshold so you enter the library through a timber-lined corridor, and the materials in there are quite different.”

“Something we inherited is that when you enter the apartment, your first view out to the extraordinary skyline is through a bathroom,” says Sonia Simpfendorfer, director of Nexus Designs. “That’s something that we wouldn’t normally do, but we fully embraced it.” Compared to the lobby, the bathroom celebrates a lighter version of a neutral colour palette, highlighting the generous size of the space.

In the primary bedroom, those tones allow focus to remain on the sweeping views to the east. The unique, restful character of the space is developed using understated artwork and furniture, as well as a more pronounced use of taupe. Separated from the bedroom by a wall, the largest section of the apartment is divided into three zones: the dining area, main seating zone and library. “We created a threshold so you enter the library through a timber-lined corridor, and the materials in there are quite different,” says Simpfendorfer. While most of the core interiors feature soft greys, gentle blues and muted greens – subtle references to the cityscape – the library captures a deep, rich colour palette, the warmth of which is enhanced by timber-clad walls. All spaces are visually united by wide oak flooring.

Using Blum motion technology, Nexus Designs has ensured that the practical elements of the Aerial experience are also elevated.

Using Blum motion technology, Nexus Designs has ensured that the practical elements of the Aerial experience are also elevated. The solutions, affecting movement and sound, allow items throughout the home to be opened effortlessly and closed silently. “We’ve worked with Blum for a long time and starting a project with them is always our preference. This kitchen was designed very specifically for this client and for this brief. As soon as we knew the shape of it, we gave the plans to Blum and they mocked up the kitchen for us at one-to-one scale in their test-drive kitchen. It just took all of the guesswork and any uncertainty out of the equation for our client.”

An oasis of calm near the Melbourne CBD, Aerial provides a place to retreat from the bustle of the city. Through the considered use of colour and motion technology, Nexus Designs has created a tranquil vantage point and effortless living environment.

Interior design by Nexus Designs. Furniture fittings by Blum.