the moreton
The Moreton is a collection of five buildings set amidst a lushly landscaped garden in urban beachside Bondi, including a stand of mature Moreton Bay fig trees, from which the development derives its name.
With lead design by Smart Design Studio, this development was designed in collaboration with Mirvac Design and successfully integrates several apartment buildings at eight, six and three storeys, a row of two storey terraces and a heritage-listed Italianate villa, Scarba House. Sitting adjacent to existing neighbouring buildings, the Moreton takes advantage of the elevated site, providing a variety of outlooks and views with maximised solar access and breezes for the 190 dwellings.
With a palette evoking the typical beach-side house, the angled white walls frame wide balconies and stepped facades fragment the scale, maximising the views and providing solar protection while responding to the urban beachside context. Scarba House has been restored sensitively to balance heritage requirements with contemporary living, and provides subtle visual clues to its new neighbours so that the development reads as a consolidated community.
An internal pedestrian link connects through the site from Ocean Street to Wellington Street, defining the internal courtyard which features defined landscape zones, including a kitchen garden, and provides a central and shaded private community space.
The interiors start with the cool and elegant lobbies, which flow from the central spine up into the apartments. Soft and muted tones create a coastal reference for the elegant yet robust interiors.
By respecting the existing landscape and heritage of the site, The Moreton has reinforced the strong urban context showcasing a sensitive urban design response which is a unique and contemporary, and of its place.
The Moreton won the High Density Development prize at the Urban Taskforce Awards in July 2017, and is shortlisted in the UDIA Awards in the High Density Residential category. This award is a testament to the attention to quality and detail taken by the entire team
