Location: Sydney, Australia.

Architect: Ian Moore Architects.

The adaptive reuse of a former warehouse has been done with a soft touch, maintaining the exterior almost untouched and exposing original brick walls and large timber roof trusses in the interior. The brief called for a 4 bedroom home with self-contained guest accommodation, a home office, and a large garage space for classic sports cars. The owners emphasized maintaining an industrial feel and requested no use of timber, marble, or black finishes in the renovation. The upper level of the warehouse has been divided on strict alignment with the existing trusses, with solid walls stopping at the bottom chord of the trusses and clear glazing installed above to enclose the cellular spaces. The household spaces are located on the upper level, while ancillary spaces are on the lower level. Large outdoor recreation spaces flow off the main living space, allowing natural light and ventilation, as well as views to the sky and new landscaping. Material and furniture choices provide comfort, low maintenance, and color to enliven the space.

The new work is complementary but clearly distinguished from the original fabric through a rigorous application of the concept of retention, recycling, and reinforcing the original form and spatial qualities of the warehouse. There is no sentimental or nostalgic reinvention of a warehouse aesthetic. Overall, the adaptive reuse of the former warehouse has transformed a large, hot/cold, and noisy space into a comfortable family home with a strong emphasis on maintaining an industrial feel. The design has effectively created a single-story house on the upper level, with ancillary spaces on the lower level. The use of clear glazing above the solid walls on the upper level allows for visual continuity of the trusses and ceiling throughout the space. The material and furniture choices provide comfort and color, while the new work is clearly distinguished from the original fabric.

Photo credit: Rory Gardiner.