MOSMAN UNIT, 2023
-
-
Item description
-
-
-
-
Project Brief & Design Intent
This Mosman Art Deco apartment holds strong personal significance, having been the client’s first home in the 1970s and a place of return over many decades.
Largely untouched during that time, the apartment no longer supported contemporary living. The brief was to retain its identity while carefully reworking the interior — not as a restoration, but as a considered evolution.
The approach focused on preserving the defining characteristics of the original shell while improving spatial flow, light and functionality. Existing architectural cues — curved openings, proportion and detailing — informed the design direction, with new interventions designed to sit naturally within the existing framework rather than compete with it.
Construction & Craftsmanship
The project presented a combination of logistical constraint and technical complexity.
Access to the apartment was limited to three narrow, curved flights of stairs, with no lift available. All materials, tools and waste had to be manually transported, significantly impacting sequencing, labour and program. At the same time, the building remained occupied by elderly residents, requiring constant attention to safety, cleanliness and minimal disruption.
Beyond access, the project demanded a high level of traditional craftsmanship. The retention of original elements — including gypsum and horsehair ceilings, lime-rendered curved openings and heritage detailing — required trades to work with existing techniques rather than replace them.
This approach introduced additional complexity. Existing conditions were often irregular, requiring careful adjustment and refinement to integrate new work without compromising the original fabric. Achieving clean, resolved junctions between old and new demanded precision, patience and coordination across all trades.
Material Palette
Material decisions were guided by the existing character of the apartment, with interventions designed to enhance rather than overwrite:
→Existing timber floorboards carefully repaired, patched, sanded and whitewashed to restore continuity and increase light
→Custom joinery introduced throughout to maximise storage while maintaining alignment with the original architectural language
→ Pivot doors replacing traditional door frames, allowing openings to be centred and softened, reinforcing the fluidity of the plan
→ Panelled and mirrored wall treatments adding depth, reflection and a sense of expanded space
→ Windows reconfigured to open fully, strengthening the connection to harbour views and natural light
The palette operates as a continuation of the original apartment — refined, clarified and extended.
Client & Architect Experience
The project was shaped by a strong emotional connection to the space, requiring a careful and considered approach at every stage.
Balancing nostalgia with modernisation demanded ongoing dialogue and trust between all parties. Decisions were rarely straightforward — each intervention required consideration of what should be retained, what could be adapted, and how the apartment could evolve without losing its identity.
The process reflects a shared commitment to preserving the essence of the home while allowing it to function in a contemporary context.
Outcome
Mosman Art Deco Unit is a carefully resolved renovation that demonstrates the value of working with what exists.
Rather than relying on contrast or expansion, the project achieves its outcome through refinement — improving light, flow and usability while maintaining the integrity of the original architecture.
Constraints of access, structure and heritage were not obstacles to overcome, but parameters that shaped the solution. The result is an interior that feels cohesive, balanced and enduring — a space that carries its history forward while supporting the way it is lived in today.
