In a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco, Woods Bagot has designed The Hensley apartments in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Potts Point. Comprising 44 north-east facing one, two and three bedroom apartments over eight levels, the building co-exists with the heritage architecture of the surrounding streets. Situated on Bayswater Road between Woolloomooloo and Elizabeth Bay, The Hensley is designed to capture the essence of urban living in Sydney. The evolution of Potts Point has seen the centre of a once thriving nightlife transform into a sought-after lifestyle precinct.
Delivering a contemporary architectural expression through the use of materials, the brickwork palette references the materiality prevalent in the immediate context of Potts Point’s residential apartments. The form of the building steps back from the heritage façade with thresholds of glass and steel signalling a break between old and new. Raw, authentic materials have created a pared-back aesthetic whereby texture and detailing was key. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, the expressive façade comprises exposed brick piers with highlights of steel and brass.
Thoughtfully creating a community as opposed to a development, Alvaro said the design has retained and revitalised the existing Bayswater Road frontage which has been achieved via the activation of the ground floor plane. Providing shared spaces that will enliven the site and broaden the appeal to residents and guests, there is clear delineation between the existing retained building and new building elements. Connecting to a central landscaped courtyard, natural daylight and cross ventilation is drawn into the interiors of the lobby and corridors. Spatially, interiors have been efficiently planned, providing ample storage to enable highly functional apartments.
Moving into the apartments, a choice of two colour schemes paired with herringbone timber floors provide a neutral palette throughout the ligh-tfilled rooms, while private balconies lead seamlessly from the living spaces to bridge indoor-outdoor living. In the kitchen, stone benchtops and splashbacks have been selected for practicality as well as reinforcing a sense of old-time elegance. Capturing views out to Rushcutters Bay, a communal rooftop terrace houses a citrus kitchen garden for residents’ use, with the area broken up into three distinct zones to create private nooks for entertaining or quiet relaxation. Source by Woods Bagot.
Location: 37-41 Bayswater Road, Potts Point, Australia
Architects: Woods Bagot
Project Team: Alex Wills, Domenic Alvaro, Eliza Boers, India Collins, Monica Bird and Rob Wright
Area: GFA 3800m2
Status: Approved design, construction due to start August 2016
Expected completion date: December 2017
Images: Courtesy of Woods Bagot