Strong bones and regal features.
Comprising 18 three-bedroom dwellings, located in Alexandria in Sydney’s inner south, Clarion is something of an anomaly. A western and an eastern building, each with their own lobby, is enhanced by communal open space shared between the buildings on level 4 with gym, pool and sauna as well as generous courtyards and landscaping. The eastern building is set back 6 metres from the northern boundary, maximising views into the internal courtyards and northerly solar access to apartments.
The proposal is made up of 2 buildings – the western and eastern buildings – conjoined by a connecting bridge element and with shared gym, pool and sauna on level 4 as well as generous courtyards and landscaping. A robust and solid façade crafted from scalloped pre-cast concrete and with punched openings for windows and balconies takes it cues from warehouse living and reflects the industrial heritage of the area. With soft landscaping throughout, internal voids run the full height of both lobbies with climbing planting growing up between.
Structurally, the design is carefully considered with an experiential and sensory selection of materials and finishes. The warmth of the inset timber framed windows complements the hard exterior while carved interior spaces with a minimal palette creates seamless connections between inside and outside with views accentuated towards nature.
Inside the apartments, concrete ceilings are left raw with the lines of formwork boards creating rhythm and hinting to the quality of construction at the bones of the building. While the concrete shell clearly registers light to form pattern and shadow, the velvety finish to the concrete ceilings and burnished terrazzo floors diffuses natural light in a way that softens the interior light quality.
Team:
Client: Milligan Group
Architecture: SJB
Photographer: Brett Boardman
Awards:
2021 UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence, Medium Density Development, Awarded
2019 Architizer A+ Awards, Residential Unbuilt - Multi-Unit Housing, Jury Winner
2022 NSW Architecture Awards, Multi-Residential, Awarded
