Elm and Stone

DKO Architecture
Australia

Using New York City as a muse, the loft typology has been celebrated throughout Elm and Stone via unique split-level terrace-style apartments that are zippered into the apartment envelope. Three distinct palettes are offered to purchasers, which reference different boroughs in New York (Upper East, Brooklyn and Soho) and their respective stylistic idiosyncrasies.

Warehouse-like concrete ceilings are tempered by warm timber floors, with black track lighting and textured joinery finishes to complete the archetype in a fashionable palette. Mezzanine levels offer expanded living spaces without the price tag of a bedroom. These flexible spaces accessed by ladder offer residents a home office space or second lounge, overlooking the main living zone, which is flooded in natural light via immense 4.5-metre windows.

The design brief was to design a mixed-use building that stood apart from the surrounding apartment projects by offering something unique in terms of living experience. However because of some site constraints this would be the first time that waterfront and city views couldn’t be relied upon to sell a large portion of the apartments in the building. This created an opportunity to design a building that really stood apart in Melbourne’s Docklands market.

The apartment tower is accessed via a light-filled double-height lobby space that includes comfortable seating and a mailroom positioned beneath the floating communal meeting room. A sculptural blackened steel stair winds itself up to a mezzanine library. An enormous communal terrace, separate pool deck and central landscaped garden are shared between the two towers.

Situated in a high density area, maximising natural light was one of the guiding principles of the project. It was achieved with the majority of the apartments being north-facing with double-height windows, while still being able to achieve a 6 star NatHERS rating.

Furniture: Ownworld, Globewest, Move-In. Lighting: Sphera. Finishes: RC&D, Taubmans Fittings & Fixtures: Smeg, Brodware.

Photography: Tom Blachford, Peter Bennetts, Jonathan Tabensky