Long road

Seatondale has been through a lot ..

After a very long wrestle with Council (like, 4 years) albeit strong support from Council Heritage Advisor, we have finally received Development Application approval for the entire site of Seatondale.
We received the agreed and registered DA conditions on 2014 DEC 22, I was too overjoyed I didn't know how to respond.  It is only starting to feel real for me now.

Through this long and draining process we have developed a very strong bond with the client and his family, with a deep understanding of the design philosophy and unsurpassable persistence.  Without their support it would have been a very lonely road.

For some design background you can refer to the first post HERE.
In the mean time we have also worked on interior of the Seatondale heritage house HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

The 2 new dwellings to the rear will NOT BE VISIBLE from within the heritage house (grey in model).  It is important for us to respect the view the Seatondale heritage house once enjoyed.
Extensive studies have been devoted to the overlooking, overshadowing, landscaping and visual connections in order to achieve a blurred balance of architecture and landscape, ensuring a harmonised coexistence of openness and privacy amongst the 3 dwellings.

Meudon photoshoot

The Meudon apartment renovation has finally completed!

Being within a building built in 1920, there were myriads of unforeseeable issues we had to confront and resolve as they surface from behind almost century-old plasters and floor boards, but it was nice to say, the calmness of the space at the end of the chaos was well worth the pain!

The Meudon apartment project is largely about spatial layering / sense of space beyond space - how that creates ambiguity in boundary hence brings comfort to people being inside the space.  Need to think of a succinct expression to explain *mental note*.

We organised for photoshoot on DEC 05, early 7am start to capture morning sun.
The entire week was forecasted to thunderstorm, luckily we did get some good sun on the day!

I found photographer Robert Walsh for the shoot this time for the sense of extension / expanse of space in his work. It is important to capture the spatial layering we sense physically in the photos, and I very much look forward to seeing the result.

This time we have also called in our friend Justin Fox from Australian Infront (huge "Thank you!") to capture some "behind the scene" photos - now that was a first for us!  Check out his blog entry HERE.

In the mean time, here are some photos from Justin on the day:

 the alcove in joinery was designed for this particular artwork
we designed the concrete/ plywood dining table in foreground with Anomaly (more photos on it later)

 we were so lucky with the weather, look at the light!

me modelling in shoot.. reading up on Australian convicts (book burrowed from the client)

Yoshi modelling in shoot.. he was back in Sydney for 1 week after 4 months in Japan on Doshisha

Robert checking lighting level

very picturesque indeed

people have different ways of working and we just have to find out how we can best work together.

 modern space vs heritage space

the client also modelling in shoot..  

I was very happy about the progress!
sofa + ottoman courtesy of Tom Fereday

Day 67 - Almost There

Heading towards the last day of Meudon construction tomorrow.

framed good-old-time...

"new" held within "old"

a view to be remembered

Day 51 - Cheerfulness

Jumping over quite a few hurdles here we have arrived at Day 51 of Meudon site.
There is a silent cheerfulness in the air now that construction dusts have all settled at last, light and air freely circulate in the spacious apartment, finally the space is taking the shape of what we have originally imagined.

This is probably one of those exciting moments of all things - almost there but not quite, full of anticipation and hope.. of course this excitement is only to be surpassed by the even-more-exciting project completion!

 

 

 

 

Day 18 - let there be light

The site in Sydney is now 1/3 way through construction program.
Lots of unpredictable happened (which is predictable for a building of this age) but we managed to keep on track with the very tight program.
So this is where we are at....

from the front door - there is so much light after enlarging the openings 

the wall on the right of corridor is the original finish; the wall on the left has been stripped of the ornaments during construction but all timber architraves will be reinstated to maintain the heritage intactness of the corridor

connecting the 2 central room is the main operation ...to allow light and breeze to circulate within the apartment

this opening was blocked off for more than 30 years... we have now reinstated it

running electrical cables under the floor has been a difficult task because the floor joists are at different directions and are laid in individual rooms (so the space under the floor is interrupted at the walls by masonry plinths)

new central room by connecting 2 rooms.  Original plan was lacking hierarchy in space, almost like an assemblage of scattered rooms.  We try to introduce a "heart" into the planning where the rooms / spaces can "come off" from

the top of this window was covered for over 30 years.  It is nice to see how it is reinstated and is bringing so much light into the space 

at the sunroom, slanting window sills have been replaced by straight sills.  Aluminium windows will be replaced with sashless windows to provide uninterrupted view to the Bay....

Day 3... What happened?!

So this is what greeted me this morning on site...

 demolition can look scary...

salvaging the heritage timber architraves for later installation

carrying down the rubbles bit by bit

...make sure not to damage the lobby...

slowly....this is the largest vehicle that can fit on site to take away rubble...

Good day to start demolition!

Finally Sydney is warming up!

We have started on a residential renovation project overlooking the fabulous Rushcutter's Bay - how so glorious.  Can't wait to see the transformation!

beautiful Sydney

stripped wallpapers are somehow romantic...

 

sense of nostalgia...

M House on I Like Architecture

M House is published on I Like Architecture!

Read the original article HERE
More about M House HERE
More photos on M House HERE
Other projects published by I Like Architecture HERE

I Like Architecture is the architecture blog that showcases unique contemporary designs, projects and concepts to those searching for architecture and design inspiration.

M House on Archdaily

M House has been published on Archdaily!

...obviously blogging in Japan after working till late on my smartphone...
Not sure if the image is showing up properly... Ugh! 

Read the article HERE

Read more about M House HERE

Find out more about other Facet Studio projects covered by Archdaily HERE

ArchDaily was founded in March 2008 with the one mission of delivering the most complete information to architects around the world; every week, every day, every hour, every moment: as soon as it happens . It is the online source of continuous information for a growing community of thousands of architects searching for the latest architectural news: projects, products, events, interviews and competitions among others.

M House on Designboom

Our project M House has been published on Designboom!

I love this night shot..

Original article on Designboom HERE
Official page on M house with more pictures HERE
Find out about behind the scene HERE
Other Facet Studio projects covered by Designboom HERE

founded in 1999, designboom is the world’s first and most popular digital architecture and design magazine.
TIME magazine chose designboom as one of the top 100 design influencers in the world, one of just eight online publications to be so named. in 2011, the french magazine architectural digest called designboom one of the top ‘les 100 qui comptent’ (‘people who count‘) in the design world… from the forefront of contemporary culture and global lifestyle.

House & Housing 101

Our project, M House was published in House & Housing 101 by Designzens of Pace Publishing (China)

 

 

Cover of "House & Housing 101"

To see more photos of M House HERE

Facet Studio is everywhere in (inside) 73

We have been interviewed by (inside) magazine!
The interview, covering our projects Seatondale Heritage, M House, and Uchi Lounge,  is published in issue 73, which is available in all good newsagency now!

 The front cover

 

 

This issue of (inside) magazine also published the shortlist of Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2012, which we are shortlisted in 4 categories.. woohoo~
...We are kind of everywhere in this issue...

rear cover

WORKPLACE UNDER 100SQM - CONNECT SYDNEY

HOSPITALITY - UCHI LOUNGE

EMERGING DESIGNER - FACET STUDIO
INTERNATIONAL PROJECT - M HOUSE