Outdoor Connection

The residence is transformed by a relocated mezzanine where a sunken interior court with a retractable glass roof connects to the planted green roof garden above. This gesture of subtracting volume from the interior brings the outdoors into the primary living zones. The roof, peeled back, showers the spaces with natural light. When open, ample air flow enters what was once a poorly ventilated and dark loft. By night, the court acts as an internal lantern illuminating the loft below.

Historic Dialogue

Embracing the building’s industrial past, a visual discourse between new and old is devised through insertions of modern materials along with restored or reclaimed materials from the loft. A custom steel stair repurposes timbers from the old roof joists as treads and landings. The multiple level residence is unified by a walnut fascia that serves as a conceptual datum.

Embracing the building’s industrial past, a visual discourse between new and old is devised through insertions of modern materials along with restored or reclaimed materials from the loft. A custom steel stair repurposes timbers from the old roof joists as treads and landings. The multiple level residence is unified by a walnut fascia that serves as a conceptual datum.

After gutting the existing labyrinthian space and leaving only key structural elements such as the existing heavy timber beams, steel columns, and brick walls, OA and Push carefully organized the private and public spaces in such a manner that the full depth of the entire unit remains uninterrupted.  This enables the living room, den, and kitchen areas on the east side of the unit to benefit from the natural light and views of the bedroom windows on the west without ever catching a glimpse of the sleeping areas.  To help further define and facilitate specific activities, a series of design objects were inserted into the space such as floating walnut cabinetry, a cantilevered wet bar, as well as large sliding and accordion doors.  These objects, besides being functional and sculptural, contribute to the clear and casual circulation throughout the unit.

Too often “loft living” forces a choice between bohemian charm and individual privacy. With some spatial ingenuity, this residence manages to support family living within the laid-back vibe of a traditional loft.

Ground Floor: 1 bedroom with courtyard, open plan study and second living room with original roller-door blind and full height operational door/windows, large bathroom with laundry, courtyard and lock up garage. Whole floor could easily be used as home office.

First Floor: Huge open plan living, dining, kitchen and meals area with expansive kitchen joinery, pantry, black mirrored splashback, stunning island bench area and extensive outdoor room-style entertainer’s courtyard.

Second Floor: Oversized master bedroom with city views, walk in robe and ensuite, 3rd bedroom, an amazing wrap around balcony and sun deck.

This project in Montreal by Jean-Maxime Labrecque certainly has a few unique twists, but what sets it apart from similar interiors is, in part, the fact that most photos show someone actually occupying the spaces.

In some cases, this shows off neat functionality, like a sleek metal surfacing concealing a huge and useful walk-in close, or what it might be like to sit at this table or lean on that counter.

In others, it perhaps reveals more than the architect wished to share – how uncomfortable those benches might be, or the comfortable nature vs. awkwardness of bending over to get something out of certain cabinets.

The one-bedroom, two-floor warehouse is located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and encompasses a large, airy open-plan living area, an overlooking kitchen located on the mezzanine storey and an uniformly-white Corian-lined bathroom. Interestingly, the existing structure of the house has been repainted white while the new elements have been developed in black creating this monochrome, undeniably modern interior.

This project is the conversion of a late 19th century former grocery warehouse into a 2 level, one bedroom residence. In the mid 20th century it had 35 years of use as an engineering workshop before being converted to an artistâ€s studio and residence in the 1970s.

Internally a 1.7 metre height difference between the 2 streets is utilised to create the tall volume of the living space, with its†floor to ceiling wall of books. The kitchen occupies the half level above, overlooking the living area and is screened by a black steel plate structure incorporating a built-in black leather bench seat.

All existing structure has been retained, lined and painted white, while all new elements are painted black. This concept is carried through to the black and white rubber flooring. All joinery is finished in black anodised aluminium, including the bathroom on the upper level, which maintains the datum established by the height of the original window openings.

The clear glazing above allows light from the new clerestory window to illuminate the formerly dark centre of the deep open planned space. Internally the bathroom is lined with Corian on both walls and floor.

The property has 2 street frontages, allowing clear separation of pedestrian and vehicle entries. The new front door is located in the former loading dock at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, adjacent to a heritage listed sandstone wall. The entry is defined by a full height steel plate portal, adding to the palimpsest of former window openings and recycled brickwork that make up this façade.

The main street façade reinterprets the original but in steel rather than timber, with the address spelt out in water jet cut steel letters reflecting the original engineering workshop signage. The contrast between the precision of the steelwork and the patina of the original brickwork summarises the transformation from 19th to 21st centuries and from industrial to residential.

Strelein Warehouse by Ian Moore Architects; photo by Iain D. MacKenzie

There are high ceilings in every sense, and creativity knows no bounds: Furniture in Johanne’s home is both relaxed and very, very grand at the same time. She had managed to create homely atmosphere – among other things – by placing many pictures directly on the floor. Stacks of pillows or cushions to sit on is a simple solution that looks great. Here Johanna nonchalantly tossed a blanket on top of the pile with leather cushions of her own design.

Furniture on wheels, screens in metal used as room dividers and 10 of the same kind of tables put together to form one long dinner table depending on your needs each day all contribute to this unique loft.

I love that my stuff can alter expression from day to day. Then I also used my home much more

says Johanna, who is a fashion designer and has furnished the basement and the ground floor as her workroom and showroom.

The coffee table in the foreground is designed byJohanne from old wood and tiles from the Paris Metro.

The pictures are by Arie Mandelbaum and his son, Stephane Mandelbaum.

The original plan was a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom standard condo configuration, early 1990`s style with little thought to how people actually live. With this plan every wall came down nand the loft was converted into a one bedroom with 2 bathrooms. The warehouse feel was then resurrected with large living spaces original brick exposed and unfinished formed concrete as a feature wall.

Light was now able to penetrate most of the new floor plan through the large 9 ft windows. Even though this home was built with a single guy in mind, a lot of thought was given to providing the owner with healthy living environment.

Whether it´s the Bio fuel fireplace the natural fibers used in all the upholstery or the home being on a timer and controlled by the owners I Phone.

This luxurious family residence has an interesting split level floor plan, comprising 3 oversized bedrooms, all with an abundance of walk-in and wall-to-wall wardrobe space. Each bedroom suite is totally separate within the apartment ensuring privacy for you and your guests.

Two huge opulent bathrooms have the feel of a luxurious day spa. The gourmet kitchen is fit for a Master Chef with oodles of work bench space and storage plus an oversized gas cooker.

State of the art engineered double glazed windows along two street frontages, fitted with double electric blinds, secure optimum peace and quiet, whilst being in the very heart of everything Melbourne.

Living here, you bask in the reality that the hardest choices for you to make will be choosing the gourmet restaurant or cosy cafe or bar of your mood.

To maximize the space inside the residence, the designers chose to abandon the general rules of maintaining privacy with regard to windows and transparency. Instead, the home opens up to nature with large expanses of glass to blend the inside and outside world.

Inside the rusted timber and brick structural shell, you will find a contemporary interior design with modern furniture, fixtures and finishes. There is also millwork detailing and the insertion of a steel cantilever stair that connects the ground floor living areas with the private sleeping quarters upstairs. The home is definitely a great rehabilitation project and the results are amazing.