The simple modernist spaces of the Mansfield Appleton apartment belie the flexibility that was enabled by a renovation in 2006. The clever rework of the 80sqm dwelling not only respects the building within which the apartment is located, it provides beautiful living spaces that connect to the incredible site and view. These reimagined spaces were conceived to be adaptable to accommodate a couple full time and at times their children and their children’s partners for overnight stays simultaneously. The renovation retained the structure but reframed it in a contemporary way.
Expand ContentThe apartment’s northeast outlook combined with the building’s structural grid establishes a rhythm of prescribed spaces. The grid provides three rooms of roughly equal size along the eastern wall, the northern most of which opens to the kitchen, dining and entry and forms the living space. The remaining two rooms form the master and guest bedrooms. These are connected by a hallway, defined on one side by a timber battened storage wall, but into which the rooms loosely extend as implied by carpet squares inlaid into the floor.
The apartment can be open with space and light freely flowing between rooms, or large pivoting and concealed sliding doors can close the bedrooms for privacy when guests are staying.
The second bedroom cleverly integrates a multi-tasking element. It suits the two teenage children, who also need a study area, however, the room need not be closed off/unusable area when they aren’t there. It features a reclining day bed with views to the east over a private balcony while a half-height joinery wall can be swung around to meet another full-height panel to close the area off completely.
