WAMBERAL APARTMENTS

WAMBERAL APARTMENTS

This brief was to redevelop a site that has an iconic history for the local residents. An existing café / restaurant with two small units that had served the community for over least 70 years, originally starting out as milk bar and local store back in the 70s. This site had a personal connection with lead architect, Cathy Slater, who would frequent the milk bar with friends as a teenager in the 70s for milk shakes and burgers.

The goal for our clients was to replace the rundown building with a new contemporary café and two apartments which would take advantage of the water views toward Wamberal Beach.

The building incorporates a basement carpark, a modern café, and both one-bedroom and two-bedroom units with lift access. The design integrates natural elements of stone and timber along with large expanses of glass to wash the interior spaces with natural light. Interior design takes on a coastal theme. The two residential units have been designed to flow from inside to out, with generous balconies to capture the nearby beach views.

Being alongside a cafe the common residential foyer acts as a visual and acoustic barrier between the commercial and residential spaces. The cafe features an extensive alfresco area, whilst internally a commercial grade kitchen allows for food prep in a modern environment that visually connects to with the cafe dining floor allowing both spaces to feel bigger and create visual interest for the patrons.

Working closely with Unique Building Partners, we were able to complete the project on budget and achieve a quality product for our client. The close relationship between the builder, the client and Slater Architects gave us a clear understanding of the desired intent and therefore the freedom to achieve what has been built.