58 Carr Street

A complex and convoluted project involving the architectural refurbishment of an existing 7 level, 1996 apartment building on the Coogee Beachfront.
The Carr St. Project shows the restoration and reframing of ordinary and generic architecture and its re-engagement with the street, via adaptive reuse.

The project had 3 parts:

Firstly, the remediation and repair of the existing building fabric that included the replacement of every brick tie, the washing and re-mortaring of all the brickwork, the repairing of flashings and exposed slabs, the replacement of all doors and windows and the rebuilding of the glazed brick spandrel panels.

The second phase of alterations included the demolition and removal of every balcony and the rebuilding of larger more commodious balconies, the form of which was derived from the inherent geometries of the pre-existing building. Engaged piers setback against the building and tied into the existing structure enabled larger column free cantilevers, creating untrammelled views and deep shade.

Finally, the adaptive reuse and additions to the carpark provided the opportunity to graft a new café/restaurant room and street servery over the double height carpark and under the first residential level, thus remaking the interface of the building along the street frontage. A major beam at the back of the room transferred balcony loads to the carpark behind and below.
We took this tectonic to the front facade creating a long horizontal framed view of the horizon and beach beyond. A street servery sleeved into the section further activates and connects the life the footpath to the new room above.