With that taken care of, achieving a three-level building within the tight site and working within daylight planes were the next challenges. The resulting structural response resembles the tiers of a wedding cake, and yet in practice it was not as simple as stacking one layer on top of another. “There was a lot of structural gymnastics going on to line up each of the three floors, which don’t exactly sit on the floor below,” says Church.
The ground level is essentially a concrete podium, with the upper two levels designed as a steel superstructure that transfers eccentric loads from the recessing levels as they step up. It means the floor-to-floor spaces between are tight, with services redesigned to fit in the cavities. “The success of it is despite all these complexities and restrictions, you would never know or understand all the challenges that were involved – it doesn’t show on the outside.”
Interestingly, it was the challenge of achieving the maximum floor plates in the recessed, stepped structure, that meant most of the living and bedroom spaces were afforded their own external deck. But the decks needed a privacy solution so that occupants are screened from the road and neighbours. “One of the responses was to have active and dynamic screening and louvres on the south-east facing elevation. The automated external louvres control the amount of light coming in and the views from the apartment,” says Naude.
The large sliding shutters with operable louvres also run the entire length of the western façade, allowing occupants control over light and sun. At the southern end of the apartments louvres allow privacy for living spaces from the street. The louvres have the added benefit of softening the building’s façade, and their dynamic ability to adapt to the weather and light gives the apartments a sense of being alive and responsive to the coastal environment.
The exterior claddings and interior finishes also respond directly to the harsh coastal climate. High spec powder- coated aluminium weatherboards were selected for this reason, but in order to aesthetically soften external elevations they were chosen in a three-tone colour to bring warmth and depth to the façade, which further enhances the build’s organic qualities.
Aluminium composite panels and plaster claddings complement the three-tone weatherboards and the front fence draws the line of sight out towards the sea, softening the exterior aesthetic with wave-like steel fins cantilevered from the concrete plinth.
Inside the client wanted warmer materials, and the base design includes tactile elements such as natural clay render. Naude says the number of challenges throughout the design and build made the project special. “The biggest success for me was our ability to come up with solutions.” The immaculately finished detailing of the building with its bold, clean lines is a particular point of pride for designers and client.
“The clients were nothing short of perfectionists in terms of craftsmanship and level of finish,” says Church, and the finished product directly speaks to the attention to detail in every aspect of
the design.
Photography by Simon Devitt
