Our Sydney based clients purchased a previously dark and dated apartment within the heritage listed Port Authority building as their Melbourne base on their frequent visits.  Dig Design transformed the apartment into a light and bright, open plan to suit a contemporary lifestyle within it’s 80sqm area.

Type:  Alterations + Additions (Apartment)

Location:  Melbourne

Client:  Christopher + Sue

Build:  Madeform

Photography:  Daniella Fulford

Located within the heritage listed Port Authority Building the foyer and common areas had strong period details.  The existing apartment however, was untouched since the 1980s conversion and very inefficient.  The original ceiling was a lot lower than the structural floor above and corridors wasted a lot of space with enclosed areas, such as the kitchen, meant a lot of the apartment was very dark.

Key to the redesign of this apartment was maximising the sense of space, and getting light in wherever possible.  Creating an open plan kitchen meal, living made the biggest difference to a previously dark and divided layout.  Lifting the ceiling height to the structural floor above and boxing out services where required added to the sense of grandeur.  Lighter floors, and the extensive use of white with black accents has not only modernised the space, it has had a huge impact on the feeling of light and space.

We looked to make the apartment as efficient as possible, increasing the comfort of the apartment making it lighter and brighter.  Dig Design’s layout created a larger kitchen, living area and added an additional bathroom without compromising bedroom sizes.

Consolidating the kitchen, meals and living into one area allowed them to be opened up to the north.  The back wall of the kitchen was potentially the darkest part of the apartment so lighting choice was critical in the design.

AWARDED

2021 Design Matters National
Winner
Residential Alterations|Additions
Under $350K Construction Cost