HIGH TIDE

A savvy mix of beach cool and urban chic elevates this Sydney penthouse apartment and enhances the appeal of its sparkling water view.

- JUDY PASCOE

With its mesmerising views across the beach to the endless blue of the ocean this property in Sydney’s eastern suburbs deserved an equally impressive interior. However the slightly shabby, top-floor, three-bedroom apartment in a 70s building did not fit the bill. The owner knew it was ripe for renovation and approached Jeremy Bull, principal of Alexander & Co around six years ago to do a refit and add a roof terrace and master suite.

The project was put on hold for a few years as council approval was sought for the additional level, then it picked up pace in 2021. By then the owner’s children had become teenagers so the original plan needed some reconfiguring. But the stellar view was a constant and Jeremy and his team set to work to deliver a comparable wow factor for the interior.

In adding the new level the challenge was to preserve the sightlines of the surrounding buildings and a mansard roof was an elegant solution. “The upper level was built on top of the previous flat concrete roof, with a new mansard roof form and the lower level was modified within the existing envelope, and we added new finishes, lighting, doors and windows,” says Jeremy. Builder Sam O’Flaherty, director of Green Anvil, comments “Attention to detail is always critical but more so when the project involves novel structures. The mansard roof has the added challenge of a concave span that required precise planning and execution.”