Smart Design Studio - Sydney Architects

Hall 20

 

Hall 20 is a boutique apartment and retail building located metres from Bondi Beach. Comprising of ten generous apartments atop a corner retail tenancy, it’s a contemporary extension of the original Bondi Post Office that respectfully retains the original building fabric from the 1920s whilst sculpting new fenestrations from the existing Post Office’s existing windows and corner entrance.

The corner position has established an angled geometry that the addition adopts with angled sandstone blades that filter views, protect glass from the hot summer sun and offer privacy. Its sculpted form, with its vertical emphasis, marries with the predominant art deco style of the neighbouring buildings and draws connections to its rugged coastal location.

 

The scheme respects and retains the most historically significant parts of the original post office. Cues were taken from the much-loved heritage building, with the fenestrations following the existing pattern. An existing band at the top of the brickwork is extended, making an elegant transition between the dark face brick and the new sandstone above.

The material palette is rigorous to meet the demands of a coastal environment whilst providing a clear delineation between new and old. Finely detailed steel framed windows punched through a light sandstone clad façade places further emphasis on the brickwork of the existing Post Office fabric.

Hall 20 maximises passive solar design. Each apartment in the building is arranged to benefit from cross ventilation and natural daylight. The inclusion of a wintergarden in all but one apartment creates a flexible indoor outdoor space, somewhat sheltered from the elements and the buzz of the streets below.

 

The apartments can be customised to different degrees. Upgraded appliances and timber flooring is available on request. There is a dark or a light kitchen scheme, as well as two configurations – one with a cooktop within the joinery and the other with a cooking space integrated in the island bench and additional storage behind.

The kitchens combine Dekton with marble benchtops, integrated appliances and understated clean, modern detailing. This includes many finer quality details such as handle-free joinery, tailored benchtop details, thick cupboard doors, and linear bar grills concealed behind stone, which reinforce the quality of this development.

 

The interiors are finely-detailed and simple to suit the rigorous geometry of the architecture, while pursuing a timeless, classic aesthetic.  The selected materials complement the architecture and introduce luxury and detail to the interiors. Off-white walls, ceilings, doors and trims are married with elegant stone tile flooring. With concealed lighting, hardset corners, flush door thresholds, tall joinery and full-height doors the quality of the project is reinforced.

The bathrooms feature sophisticated warm porcelain wall tiles, cove lighting and concealed services. The basin and WC are integrated into full-height mirrored joinery units that are built into the walls, creating large volumes of storage without the appearance of bulky joinery. The iron bronze trims and fixtures reinforce the timeless aspiration and marry with the door furniture used throughout the building.

 

SMART DESIGN STUDIO ARCHITECTURE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

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