Attuning to the natural and cultural context of its Bondi surroundings, our O’Donnell Street project architecturally manipulates form, materiality and space, crafting two boutique homes which open to natural light and ocean breeze whilst providing ample residential privacy.
Presenting a duality of orientations, our design divides the two dwellings through an axis of symmetry running down the centre of the site. Mirroring one another, each home is accessed directly through a beautifully landscaped front garden, designed by Dangar Barren Smith.
The open plan ground floor draws light from three sides and invites cooling ocean air and sounds to flow through the space. A connecting void between the upper and lower levels bathes the brick party wall in light, permeating the interior; the brick’s colour and solidity balanced by Victorian Ash on the stair and open, exposed floor joists. Exemplifying our broader design strategy for both homes, the open metal mesh that forms the stair wall strategically silhouettes the activity within; screening and veiling inhabitants without completely obscuring them behind solid walls.
With materiality intentionally chosen to evoke the building’s coastal location, the external palette contrasts off-white Austral Chillingham brickwork with black stained Abodo timber. Presenting as a seamless rectangular prism, the upper floor cladding allows for the integration of beholding screens without disrupting the continuity of the material. In keeping with our internal silhouetting, these screens add kinetic movement to the facade, permitting glimpses in and out of the dwelling.
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Professional
MHNDU is a Sydney architectural collective dedicated to creating timeless spaces which cater to modern sensibilities. Dedicated to our craft for over twenty-five years, our ethos is unwavering: to cultivate experiential beauty in built form.
All of our projects are a physical testament to our fundamental philosophy of respecting the nuances of the architectural artform, catering to our clients’ needs for a unification of residential liveability and luxuriousness.
MHNDU represents the holistic union of principals Brian Meyerson, Kevin Ng, Liam Hancock and Tanya Awadallah. Together with their talented team, they fuse their experience, dedication to design creativity and strategic architectural visions with the ultimate goal of cultivating a legacy of quality, enduring and sustainable buildings.
MHNDU has established a strong reputation in our industry based on our unique blend of technical excellence, commercial acumen and forward-thinking design sensibility. We have cultivated a timeless portfolio of over a hundred works specialising in developments ranging from bespoke houses and small to medium size multi-residential projects to large scale urban renewal projects within the Eastern Suburbs and Greater Sydney area. Our projects are characterised by their confident, modernist statements tempered with an intimate knowledge of local climate, lifestyle and culture.
At MHNDU we understand that the development approvals process is one of the most challenging and daunting prospects for our clients. We have built our name on our ability to engage and mediate the processes involved between clients, council, neighbours and major stakeholders. We assist our clients’ assessment of their site’s development potential through feasibility and early concept design studies for a wide range of projects. We assess the potential for bonus floor space via voluntary planning agreements, affordable housing schemes and exceptions to the planning controls to increase the yield of our client’s sites.
We are proudly affiliated with interior design studio Lawless & Meyerson, experts in intentionally cultivating interior spaces which complement the architectural concept and elevate their client’s experiential sense of home. Headed by interior designer Jo Lawless, Lawless & Meyerson have collaborated with MHNDU on a range of multi award-winning projects, building on a wealth of experience and style of relaxed sophistication. From high-end bespoke homes to luxury apartments, each collaboration is treated individually and holistically from the inside out: a seamless blend of architectural expression and refined interiors.
Nominated Architect Brian Meyerson. NSW Registration No 4907. VIC Registration No 19861.