Double Bay Apartment I

This penthouse renovation in the heart of Double Bay came with a layer of complexity quietly masked by the beauty of the finished result.

The scope was a full strip-out — every wall and ceiling in the apartment was removed and reconfigured, while the existing timber flooring was retained, sanded and re-stained rather than replaced. Curved openings run throughout the apartment, carried through the kitchen, bathrooms and living spaces in micro cement, a finish that demands precision at every turn given how unforgiving curved surfaces are compared to straight lines and square corners.

Access was one of the project's biggest constraints. Working within a multistorey building meant every material — down to the kitchen island benchtop and other oversized pieces — had to be brought in via a single crane lift, with everything else moved through the building. Keeping neighbouring residents unaffected throughout was as much a part of the job as the renovation itself.

A sculpted and ribbed travertine feature was one of the standout elements of the build — custom built to house the fireplace while concealing a television within it.

It was a project made all the more easy – and enjoyable - by good people on all sides. The clients, the architects and the designers were straightforward to work with throughout, which set the stage for a smooth, on-time and on-budget build despite the technical demands. It's the perfect example of what our team does well: taking on the practical complexity so a vision comes together exactly as intended.

Interior Design Hare + Klein
Architect Bagnoli Architects
Structural Engineer Fred Barros Engineering
Photography Jen Wilding