Perched high atop Tamarama and reminiscent of the sweeping curves of the nearby beaches, Wave Apartments is a contemporary interpretation of Waverley’s quintessential 3 storey walk-up.
Balancing the view corridors available to each individual dwelling with its overall architectural form, Wave creates two distinct volumes to present to the street. The eastern volume, with its white edged balconies curved in elevation, opens up the corner to give access to views down the street. The western volume curves gently around its more exposed corner, more enclosed in order to facilitate privacy from passing traffic and pedestrians.
The yin and yang of these two elements both responds to the subtle difference in their orientation, as well as breaks down the overall massing in the street. The sides and rear of the building are not neglected, with the white edging continuing through and around the project to give a unity to the building as a whole.
The materials palette used is crisp and clean – vertical cedar battens and off-form concrete giving way to smooth white rendered curves. Internally, timber floors and white painted kitchens reflect a less formal way of living.
A variety of 1 and 2 bedroom dwellings have been created, offering 12 apartments overall, half of which are garden apartments. Infill housing is never easy, and the project has had to balance the needs of adjoining residents with the additional accommodation so needed in Waverley, to balance a new form with a context of varied character. Demolition of the existing 2 storey apartment building made way for basement parking, to reduce the load on local streets, and allowed for an upgrade both to the number and quality of the dwellings on the site.
Wave Apartments is a finely crafted residential apartment building, specific to its place and quietly reflective of the Tamarama lifestyle. It is a building that is a respectful neighbour to the street, takes pride in the quality of its workmanship, and rejoices in its location.
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