Unorthodox ideas abound in this simple yet clever project
— Brodie Norris, Lunchbox Architects
This widely published and award-winning apartment renovation is located in Melbourne’s inner west.
Pre-renovation this 10 year old apartment was an average, cheaply fitted out space with plastic faux timber floors, lower ceilings and laminate kitchen joinery. It lacked any personality and consisted of a very standard layout where bedrooms were compartmentalised off a dark long corridor.
The layout of the dwelling was reconfigured to maximise access to natural light whilst opening up the circulation between spaces to create multiple openings and routes between each space, creating a more flexible and light filled dwelling.
Existing materials were exposed and a new kitchen was made. The design of the kitchen originated from wanting to avoid a stereotypical wall of kitchen joinery cupboards and appliances as the backdrop to the living and dining space. Instead the aim was to create a cooking area that appeared as a collection sculptural objects, with the functional cooking equipment concealed within each element.
Three objects were developed, a solid Corian bench, a metal arched door, raised off the floor and placed flat against the wall and a complimentary arched reveal. Between these three they hold the sink, oven, stove, rangehood and fridge.
We didn’t know what we were going to expose through the process of removal. What was revealed was a painterly quality to the precast panels created by the concrete pour slops and builders marks. This formed a textured, imperfect backdrop. The palette of new materials were chosen to compliment and soften the tones of the existing concrete floor and walls, adding warmth to the space.