One of the first residential complexes launched in 2010 took six years to gain planning approval and will feature architecture that spans 110 years in design.
The North Sydney property integrates modern apartments with four heritage houses.
Called The Heritage, the new eight-storey apartment building is deliberately restrained, with uncluttered lines that blend into the sandstone precinct to complement the houses which were built between 1891 and 1898.
Three rectangular, stone-clad frames visually reduce the scale of the building and align with the heritage houses below. The spaces between the slender vertical frames and the houses define the entries into the two apartment foyers, which run from Walker to Hartnett Street.
Satisfying all conservation, heritage and planning requirements for The Heritage was a six-year process for the Moore Development Group, and it expects it to set an ESD benchmark for North Sydney.
The thermally-efficient building will reduce impact on the environment, giving all apartments access to daylight, sunlight and cross-ventilation, while a solar-boosted power system is one of the energy saving initiatives.
‘Calm simplicity’ is the term architect William Smart uses to describes the design.
“The aim is to create an ecologically-sustainable building that brings together architecture from eras 110 years apart, maximises the harbor views to the east, and which doesn’t overwhelm the streetscape,” he said.
“The rectangular frames articulate the facades to create a vivid interplay of space and light. The facades are punctuated by horizontal bands of masonry and harbour-facing stone balconies.
“Floor-to-ceiling glazing animate the finely-detailed glass walls and, with the bronze-coloured retractable external louvres, creates a high degree of privacy, natural light and ventilation for all apartments.”
The four heritage houses at The Heritage will be restored to their former glory, and be on sale from $1.05 million. Two are examples of Federation Gothic architecture, with the other two being in the style of Victorian Italianate and Federation Queen Anne.
