Perched atop an adaptively reused industrial building this new rooftop structure provides a welcoming retreat for its inhabitants - a home snuggled into the dense city.
Internally, the home is organised around connections to the outside. Skylights punctuate the roof form delivering light deep to the plan while a deep cut in the living space brings the landscape into the home. Private spaces; bathrooms and sleeping quarters are formally arranged to enable a full house while protecting privacy. This strategy has been employed to create a sense of drama to the dwelling and allows easy compartmentalisation.
The garden's flora is predominantly native, creating an oasis for indigenous birds and insects. This small piece of sky landscape aims to contribute to the opportunistic network of small inner city native landscape spaces and public parks that provide respite for fauna.
While not attempting to directly reference the aesthetic of the original building below, the penthouse addition aims to follow its lead, delivering a raw concrete space with large expanses of glass to encourage light penetration. The material palette is simple, raw and not intended to be overly detailed. The use of concrete throughout, timber floors and granite paving both inside and outside the dwelling delivers a home with a relaxed feel.
Conceived as a landscape for living in one that that acknowledges and celebrates the interdependence of humans and their habitat this home is a blueprint for future development. It demonstrates that it is possible to live harmoniously with nature in a densely populated urban environment.