Newtown Warehouse

Newtown, Inner West, Sydney

Photography Aimee Crouch

Tucked away at the end of a cul-de-sac and set on a unique level 283sqm parcel of land, the rough-hewn brickwork of the original smash repair shop façade was left largely untouched to deliberately disguise a hidden oasis at odds with the bustling vibrancy of its inner-city location.

The original interior was boldly reinvented with a sleek palette of polished concrete, white-painted brickwork and hardwood timber cladding. The expansive proportions of the warehouse interior have been maintained by the innovative design of a central, freestanding utility box that houses the bathroom within it.

The conversion embraces a spacious, north-facing garden courtyard. A series of large, hardwood-framed glass doors on the northern wall of the building slide open to integrate the courtyard with the living areas of the warehouse, flooding the interior with abundant light and fresh air.

Beautifully clad in hardwood timber, the box functions as a stand-alone feature, positioned to provide a distinction between the living areas and the bedroom behind. The box allows the expansive open-plan nature of the warehouse to remain free of walls, whilst also providing a separation between shared spaces and private spaces.