A redesign celebrates the history of this heritage- listed apartment with exposed brick and three- quarterheight walls – and modernizes with a clean, crisp palette.
O’Connor and Houle’s recent renovation of their clients’ Oliver Lane apartment was nothing short of ambitious. Removing existing plasterboard walls, Stephen O’Connor and Annick Houle’s practice reimagined the entire floor of a heritage-listed 1907 Melbourne CBD building as the couple’s new abode. By exposing the concrete ceiling and brick walls, the architects honoured its original warehouse aesthetic, restoring a tangible sense of history throughout.
“Our clients were open to exploring new ideas in terms of materiality, layout and detailing,” says Stephen. “And this is what made the design process such an exciting one.” Maximizing natural light to ensure it reached the centre of the plan was a top priority, and the architects achieved it with elegant three-quarter-height walls and steel-framed glass partitions.
The kitchen is bright and breezy as a result, perfectly meeting all of the family’s functional needs as well as being somewhere relaxing where everyone wants to spend time. Its open plan makes it visible to the living areas, and the atypical arrangement, which eschews an island bench and overhead cabinetry for a round table and cupboard, lends it modern appeal. A scullery is cleverly concealed at the kitchen’s far end, hiding all the messiness that comes with everyday use and upholding the scheme’s overall restrained aesthetic. The subdued colour palette of grey, cream and white highlights the space’s textural qualities, which are complemented by dining chairs with woven backrests and voluminous, oversized pendant lights.
New maple flooring contrasts with the old, adding warmth to the space’s existing structures. This floor extends into the bathroom’s handwashing area, where a grey stone vanity makes the space appear like a wellness retreat. The addition of maple joinery completes the scheme, instilling a restrained
Japanese-style ambience that is instantly calming. Stephen and Annick have thoughtfully zoned this small space, transitioning into the wet areas with the introduction of floor-to-ceiling stone cladding. As Stephen reflects, “This careful detailing and tailoring of spaces to meet a client’s individual needs adds an extra layer of richness and enjoyment.”
Every insertion, detail and finish is a celebration of the apartment’s good bones and industrial heritage. Yet the architects have managed to create an interior that feels welcoming and intimate, with a softness not usually associated with such a building. Most importantly, the clients are happy with their new home, deriving genuine delight from their own little oasis smack bang in the heart of a bustling city.
Kitchen products
Internal walls: Painted brickwork
Flooring: Canadian rock maple floorboards
Joinery: New Savior limestone benchtop from CDK Stone; custom American oak veneer cabinetry with paint finish
Lighting: Paris au mois d’août pendant; Le Corbusier Lampe De Marseille Nemo from Mondoluce
Sinks and tapware: Vola tapware; Lacanche pot filler; Franke Bolero sinks
Appliances: Lacanche range cooker and salamander; Miele integrated refrigerator and dishwasher; Vintec wine cabinet
Bathroom products
Internal walls: New Savior limestone slabs from CDK Stone; custom steel-framed highlight glazing
Flooring: New Savior limestone slabs from CDK Stone; Canadian rock maple floorboards
Joinery: New Savior limestone vanity from CDK Stone; Canadian rock maple veneer joinery
Lighting: LED strip lighting from Inlite; Flos mini glo ball wall light from Euroluce
Tapware and fittings: Custom New Savior limestone basins from CDK Stone; Claybrook Soho bath from Rogerseller; Vola tapware and shower fittings
Sanitaryware: Toto toilet