Sydney Apartment Reflects Owners Unusual Inspirations
According to the report, Mima Architects principal Jemima Manton believes that architecture should be “vernacular” and of a place, as seen in her redesign of a Newport penthouse apartment in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
The apartment’s material palette is influenced by its surroundings, with sandy limestone floors and eclectic interiors that create a personalized coastal aesthetic.
Design Inspiration
Jemima’s design inspiration came from summer motifs like “salted pistachio sorbet” and her client’s boat, a Nimbus 365 Coupé, as well as the work of Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi, known for her interpretation of Brazilian tropical modernism.
She notes that she enjoys how Bo Bardi makes hard, rough materials homely and uncomplicated, and aimed to create a similar atmosphere in the apartment.
In the kitchen, a coffee and sand-coloured tile forms a durable, checkered splashback set within pistachio-coloured joinery, with aubergine hidden inside the cupboards as a playful nod to the actual pistachio nut.
Earthly Character
The home’s earthy character is further emphasized by a robust stainless-steel bench, brass fittings, terracotta tiles, and Venetian plaster on the ceilings, with metallic accents referencing the client’s nautical lifestyle and regular fishing trips.
The powder room features Cole & Son Acquario fish wallpaper and ancient reef marble, adding to the apartment’s unique character.
Related: Small garage transformed into chic studio space
According to Jemima, there is a high level of craftsmanship and handmade components within the project, which was designed to age well in the harsh environment.
The apartment layout was reorganised around a large central spine of joinery, maximising storage space, with builder Luke Ziman of Iceberg Enterprises instrumental in managing ongoing negotiations with the strata group on site.
Good Design and Planning
Jemima notes that good design follows good planning, and that the project’s success lies in its rejection of the typical high-end Sydney apartment style, instead pursuing warmth, robustness, and longevity.
Jemima says, “Where others reach for polish and technology, Newport Apartment pursues warmth, robustness and longevity”.
The solid walnut joinery will patina with use, and the brass and nickel fittings will improve over time, with everything calibrated to feel better in ten years than it did on day one.
The result is an apartment that feels perfectly grounded within its relaxed coastal setting, with a design that is both eclectic and cohesive.
Want more stories like this? Sign up to The Design Files free newsletter to get our best articles sent to your inbox.
