Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson

Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, WindowsChallis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Windows, LightingChallis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Living Room, Sofa, WindowsChallis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, KitchenChallis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - More Images+ 9

Potts Point, Australia
  • Architects: Retallack Thompson
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  50
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2018
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Kat Lu
  • Lead Architects: Jemima Retallack, Mitchell Thompson
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Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Exterior Photography, Windows, Brick
© Kat Lu

Text description provided by the architects. To what degree can the spaces of our homes feel individual and separated, yet foster interaction across them? How can the inhabitants perform rituals of dwelling in various parts of the home whilst maintaining a connection?

Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Living Room, Sofa, Windows
© Kat Lu

The ‘Esquire’ inter-war Art Deco apartment building is imbued with humane proportions and details, yet suffered from being too compartmentalised for modern living. The client purchased the one bedroom apartment to act as their city “nest” - a small place in the city for them to hide out for a weekend or host family and friends when they came to town. A family of five, the apartment had to have an ability to expand and contract to accomodate 1 to 5 people at a time. Besides the bedroom, the living and dining nook can be converted into sleeping quarters which provide a degree of separation and privacy from one another. Fold down beds are concealed within the walls of the living space whilst the generous bench seating and retractable Eileen Grey Jean table to the dining nook allows for provision of a fifth sleeping area.

Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Windows, Lighting
© Kat Lu
Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Image 14 of 14
Floor plan
Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Windows
© Kat Lu

It is during the day, with potentially 5 people occupying the apartment at any one time, that careful consideration of the functions of the apartment are most required. The intervention saw the removal of three walls to create a greater connection for inhabitants across living, dining and cooking areas. The apartment’s ground plane is opened up to give an increased sense of space, yet thresholds are maintained between them through the downturns of the ceiling and subtle changes in material and finishes. The design attempts to find a balance between the removal of barriers to the inhabitants interactions whilst still clearly defining zones of service, living and rest.

Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson - Interior Photography, Bathroom, Sink, Glass
© Kat Lu

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Project location

Address:Challis Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011, Australia

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Challis Avenue Apartment / Retallack Thompson" 07 Jun 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/918503/challis-avenue-apartment-retallack-thompson> ISSN 0719-8884

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