Urban spread
A surprising array of relaxing outdoor spaces is woven throughout this glamorous warehouse.
When interviewing architect Andy Macdonald of Miarchitects on the subject of this converted warehouse in Sydney’s Paddington he has the aura of an archaeologist. He understands the building in all its nuances, its peccadillos and shifts in character as this is the third time, with the third set of clients, that he has undertaken a renovation of it.
The first conversion of this handsome, double-fronted brick building was in 2004. “Originally constructed in 1907 as storage for Myer, the department store, it was something of an anomaly, as it was a utilitarian warehouse set in a row of residential terraces. It was operating as the ‘House of Desks’ when my client bought it,” says the architect.
Commissioned by a couple moving to Paddington from Sydney’s north shore the project plan had the gravitas of an art gallery with its monumental atrium bringing light into the centre of the building above a generous internal garden. “From a heritage perspective the council required us to retain the side walls, which were without windows, and so we maintained the full envelope and ensured the atrium, which corkscrews both down and up, became the defining feature of the space,” says Andy. It provides ventilation and greenery at the heart of the house, while the enormous glass roof slides back in James Bond-style splendour to open directly to the sky. “I remember asking the clients what defined luxury for them and it was the Aman Resorts with their generosity of proportion, lushness and fresh air,” he says. In terms of mandatory requirements there was a desire to increase the overall floor space within the existing footprint and include a twobedroom, self-contained apartment.
Guiding the original clients in terms of overall aesthetic and furniture selection was Geoff Clark, then of Country Trader, who according to the architect, “wrote us the best brief we ever had, detailing the dimensions of internal nib walls necessary to match the scale of the building”. It is interesting to see the touches from this period that survive from Clark’s specifications – the magnificent front doors, the playful basket light in the laundry and the door to the wine cellar which provides all the theatre of entering a medieval dungeon.
The second owners to come to the architect had young children and the interior arrangement, with its sophisticated voids and ventilation openings, caused anxiety for the parents. “I did a number of drawings for interventions to help navigate some of their issues, but I think we could all agree at the end of the process it was the wrong house for that stage of life,” says Andy.
With the current owners there came a certain relief that they wanted to reinstate the original intent. The clients, in 2004, had required heavy security arrangements and the architect always felt the entry sequence was flawed as a result, and so here was the opportunity to rectify that.
“The owners also had the appetite to re-approach the council about some aspects that had been knocked back over a decade ago, which was wonderful to hear,” says Andy.
Working with Bill Clifton from Robert Plumb Build they set about reordering rooms at the front and creating this tremendous sense of arrival where the visual of the garden, the light, the art and the textiles hit as a sensory experience, drawing you directly into the centre of the house.
Andy was able to re-purpose expensive joinery – pleased to both reduce waste and to retain good, well-resolved architectural solutions. “All the dimensions were taken and then re-done like a jigsaw puzzle to create the current space,” he says.
The shift that Andy sees most is the way in which the house is now occupied, its decoration and interior warmth. The clients have an evident love of art with an impressive collection of artists, including Craig Ruddy and John Olsen, perfectly positioned on the expansive white walls.
The rugs also act as artworks, breaking up the antique flamedstone flooring that runs throughout, and have the rich, tactile expression of the handmade. In keeping with this textural approach some walls are clad in muted shades of seagrass wallpaper and everything from tile choices to cushions adds to the distinct, highly personal aesthetic.
“The clients were very invested in the interior decoration decisions and helped by Chrissie Jeffery of No Chintz who has such flair with textiles and the use of colour,” he says.
For an urban house a surprising variety of outdoor spaces are stitched throughout, from the generous verandah extending from the living space looking onto the Paddington treetops, to a rooftop terrace complete with a plunge pool and city views, to glazed walls that slide away in the main bedroom ensuite to give the sense of bathing outdoors.
The house also engages with the earth with two below-ground storeys housing the garage, wine cellar, gym, small workshop and an expansive laundry. Marks of the past are evident in the brickwork and the way that old joists have been re-used as beams in the garage ceiling to retain something of character in this sophisticated family home. Andy is happy that this boomerang project is now in such a good place, but as much as he loves it he wonders if he would have the stamina for a fourth time around. #