Handmade Petersen Kolumba bricks from Robertson's Building Products Pty Ltd were selected as part of an honest and raw materials palette for the luxury apartments located in a tree-lined street in Brighton.
Designed by mckimm architects as a luxurious, contemporary residential space for Melbourne’s downsizing market, Otto Apartments in Brighton consists of eight generously sized, low maintenance units featuring a distinctive and timeless style.
“There was a real gap for luxury, high-end apartments… and we wanted to stay true to the mckimm design philosophy of creating large, high-end homes that focused on intelligent acoustics, structural integrity and exquisite attention to detail,” comments mckimm.
The materials palette incorporates natural materials abundantly, and includes brick, concrete, steel and zinc. Handmade Petersen K91 bricks on the street-front are harmoniously paired with off form concrete to create an elegant facade, along with Blanco bricks on the sides and rear of the building.
“We love the character and form of the Petersen Kolumba bricks – they’re long and narrow, and every brick is handmade, so they’re really unique. We were looking for something unique, natural and low maintenance, and the K91 bricks were just perfect, they softened the look of the entire building and made it more familiar,” mckimm explained.
“The Blanco bricks also worked well with the Petersen Kolumba bricks, maintaining their intent, while offering a more cost-effective solution for the development.”
Meticulous landscaping at the apartment building’s entrance and on every balcony and outdoor space further softens and complements the external facade. The high-end details continue on the apartment’s interior, each one individually designed and crafted to create a beautiful sanctuary using an equally inviting palette of American Oak timber floors, stone and bespoke joinery.
Natural light streams into the apartments through the generously sized windows and open plan living. While minimalist in design, there is a clear focus on comfort and elegance.
Photographer: Dave Kulesza
