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It isn’t every day that architects are presented with the opportunity to convert an old confectionary factory into a contemporary apartment! The initial brief to Folk Architects was simply to provide an additional level (behind the original, heritage-listed façade) that would include a master bedroom and en-suite.
Folk Architects’ director Christie Petsinis explains that after further consultation, the brief expanded to emphasise the ‘importance of an open and flexible space for living and entertaining, with a seamless connection to the outdoors.’ In response, the architects created three private outdoor spaces, ‘meaning the nuances of light can be enjoyed at any time of the day’.
The adaptive re-use of this site draws upon the existing building fabric and features a considered introduction of new materials. The surprising and cheerful pink ‘bridge’ offers a ‘visual and spatial gesture throughout the house,’ as Christie describes. The ‘catwalk’ (nicknamed by the builder) is perforated, allowing light to flow through the home.
Through cleverly framing views, creating links with multiple outdoor spaces, and that hovering pink bridge, the architects have created movement and a sense of connection throughout a home that would otherwise be a dark, linear space.
While the pink bridge draws the eye upwards, the pared-back colour palette of the home ensures there is no risk of an overly saccharine interior. The terrazzo kitchen bench, retained industrial features in the living room, and refined stoneware in the bathroom create a crisp, elegant balance between the old and the new.
