HITECTURE & INTERIORS
BONDI BEACH APARTMENTS II
Location: Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Role:
Project and Interiors Architect
DARC Design Arcs:
Heritage - Contemporary
Prominent Base - Recessive Upper Form
Sculptural Expression - Contextual Restraint
Lightness - Solidity
Transparency - Privacy
Timeless Materials - Coastal Durability
Innovation - Neighbourhood Harmony
I. The design began with a clear response to planning controls — a maximum allowable envelope of 19.5 metres under the SEPP. This defined the initial block, providing a compliant and efficient framework from which refinement and articulation could evolve.
II. From this base, we engaged in a subtractive process — carefully carving back the volume to allow the retained heritage façade to breathe. This measured reduction opens space for light and air, ensures clear visual prominence of the historic fabric, and creates a respectful transition between the old and the new.
III. The refinement of the mass introduced a cascading, wave-like expression. This gesture responds to the natural topography of the site, reflects the fluid movement of the Bondi beachfront, and playfully reinterprets the arched forms that characterise many nearby buildings. The result is a form that feels grounded in its context yet distinctly contemporary.
IV. The façade was refined through a careful composition of apertures — generous enough to capture light and frame views, precise enough to retain cohesion. These openings form a rhythm that feels deliberate and enduring, balancing human scale with architectural rigour.
V.Horizontal bands were introduced as subtle lines of tension and release — elements that stretch and compress the façade, grounding it within the streetscape while creating a dialogue with the building’s vertical proportions.
VI. Materials were selected for resilience and quiet elegance: tactile, durable, and able to weather the coastal air without losing integrity.
The outcome is a building of clarity and confidence. It responds to its site and its neighbours with precision, yet stands apart as a contemporary form shaped by intent rather than trend. This is a design that integrates planning discipline, contextual sensitivity, and a sculptural vision — a building that will stand the test of time, both in function and in form.