With a practice grounded in renovating existing spaces, Studio Noakes embarked on a comprehensive renovation of this historical warehouse apartment to both preserve and enhance the original industrial features.  

Located in the inner-city hub of Redfern, this generously sized loft apartment is one of Sydney’s earliest warehouse-to-apartment conversions.  Previously a working-class area it’s factories and industrial sites employed local & migrant workers alike.  Watertower, is one of the few remaining historical warehouses left in Redfern which is now a vibrant, eclectic and art inspired precinct.  

While the apartment retained the historical attributes of its industrial era, such as high ceilings, robust hardwood columns and rafters, prior alternations had diminished their prominence.  The objective was not only to unveil the apartment’s rich history but also to infuse the space with the creative disposition of their client, a young local artist.  We were inspired by the New York art movement of the early 1980’s.  The days of Andy Warhol, Basquiat, and Keith Haring, yet with a sophistication of modern living and all that we have come to expect.

This fusion of new, natural, vintage and iconic pieces reflects a delightful chaos that harmonises perfectly with the young artist residing here.  The buildings heritage stands proud amidst a vibrant infusion of colour, expansive forms and textured spaces, providing a striking backdrop to showcase the client’s dynamic art collection from other emerging local talents.