GalerieSea Change
Ranging from macro thinking about the oceanside context to the careful choice of interior finishes, the wide scope of our design work for this apartment building and townhouses in Port Macquarie not only reflects the breadth of our practice, but also meets a very specific commercial brief, elevating the standard of new development in regional coastal towns.
Ranging from macro thinking about the oceanside context to the careful choice of interior finishes, the wide scope of our design work for this apartment building and townhouses in Port Macquarie not only reflects the breadth of our practice, but also meets a very specific commercial brief, elevating the standard of new development in regional coastal towns.
Location
Town Beach
State
NSW
Country
Birpai
Client
Bloc
Expertise
Residential, Interiors
Year
2022
Collaborators
Terras Landscape Architects, S4B Studio, Sellic, Acor
Renders
Two —o Seven
1/6
Brief
Since the pandemic of 2020/21, many Australian families are seeking a better work-life balance, and coastal towns have become increasingly popular, offering the opportunity to live by the beach, work from home and commute occasionally into larger cities. Port Macquarie is typical. Halfway between Sydney and Byron Bay, it has long been a favourite of downsizing retirees and, with this newest influx of residents, now has a cosmopolitan feel – and the fastest-growing population in New South Wales. Bloc, our client for this project, sought to take advantage of this evolving demographic with a high-end apartment building and townhouses overlooking Town Beach and park.
Since the pandemic of 2020/21, many Australian families are seeking a better work-life balance, and coastal towns have become increasingly popular, offering the opportunity to live by the beach, work from home and commute occasionally into larger cities. Port Macquarie is typical. Halfway between Sydney and Byron Bay, it has long been a favourite of downsizing retirees and, with this newest influx of residents, now has a cosmopolitan feel – and the fastest-growing population in New South Wales. Bloc, our client for this project, sought to take advantage of this evolving demographic with a high-end apartment building and townhouses overlooking Town Beach and park.
Design
Set among more dated 1990s blocks, the apartment building is intended to set a new benchmark for a regional coastal town, with an urban quality attractive to out-of-town buyers. To the north, it has large, comfortable balconies, outdoor rooms shaded by a generous overhang which capture long views out across the ocean. The eight-storey building has a solid base with white-rendered parapets to the balconies and timber screens, while to break down the mass the floors above are more lightweight with glazed parapets. To the south, a row of three-storey townhouses have sculptural, staggered front elevations to retain privacy and give visual interest. In between, the residents share a terraced, landscaped garden with a barbecue terrace and an indoor swimming pool below a huge glazed oculus.
Set among more dated 1990s blocks, the apartment building is intended to set a new benchmark for a regional coastal town, with an urban quality attractive to out-of-town buyers. To the north, it has large, comfortable balconies, outdoor rooms shaded by a generous overhang which capture long views out across the ocean. The eight-storey building has a solid base with white-rendered parapets to the balconies and timber screens, while to break down the mass the floors above are more lightweight with glazed parapets. To the south, a row of three-storey townhouses have sculptural, staggered front elevations to retain privacy and give visual interest. In between, the residents share a terraced, landscaped garden with a barbecue terrace and an indoor swimming pool below a huge glazed oculus.
Impact
Within a few weeks of completion, all of the homes in the development were sold. The interior design was an important selling point, offering a quality of finish more likely to be seen in the city and therefore integral to attracting the high-end buyers sought by the developers. The palette is inspired by the coastal environment, sufficiently calming to allow the views of the ocean to speak for themselves.
Within a few weeks of completion, all of the homes in the development were sold. The interior design was an important selling point, offering a quality of finish more likely to be seen in the city and therefore integral to attracting the high-end buyers sought by the developers. The palette is inspired by the coastal environment, sufficiently calming to allow the views of the ocean to speak for themselves.
