Luigi Roselli has significantly modified a typical 1920s two-storey flat at Potts Point, Sydney into a four-storey block fit with a basement carpark and cellar, a ground floor garden apartment and a two-storey penthouse.   

Forty per cent of the original building was demolished, mainly the rooms at the back of the property, and replaced by a modern structure with curved scissor balconies, a completely new fitout and a rooftop terrace.

The original façade at the front of the property, including its Queen Anne leadlight windows, liver toned brickwork, and timber shingle-skirted bow windows, was left to preserve the building’s consistency with the style of the street, the only hint of the renovation being a glazed bridge leading up to the first-floor apartment entrance.

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The scissor balconies of the back elevation are angled to offer side views while maintaining the building’s rear alignment with the neighbouring properties

Inside, the architects note that every millimetre has been carefully planned to condense the content of a large house into a city pad. The joinery was designed by Project Architect, Jane McNeill and fabricated/assembled by Space Joinery who aimed to provide as much storage as possible for the owners and room for the luxury furniture.

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McNeil also designed a library and study area for the owners which is tucked beside a steep stair that climbs to a landscaped roof terrace and spa pool. 

Curved surfaces feature throughout and are juxtaposed by strong angular elements. The curving interior staircase backdropped by an original mid 1920s window is one example, while the the Corian benchtop and rounded glass vanity in the bathrooms are two more.

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Spiral staircase is self-supporting fit with a matching spiral plywood balustrade
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Bathroom features angular Corian benchtop, Lea Ceramica tiled floor, Carara marble bath surround and untiled wallsluigi-rosselli-architects-duplex-in-the-city-013.jpg
Main bathroom is located in the 1920s part of the apartment and so features metro style ceramic tiles with exceedingly tight grout joints characteristic of the period.

PLANS

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PRODUCTS

WINDOWS
ORIGINAL QUEEN ANE LEADLIGHT WINDOWS
FROSTED GLASS WALL

WALLS
ORIGINAL LIVER TONED BRICKWORK
ORIGINAL TIMBER SHINGLES

STAIRS
JACOBS LADDER STAIR
SPIRAL PLYWOOD BALUSTRADE

VENEERS
AMERICAN OAK TIMBER VENEERS

BENCHTOPS
CARA MARBLE BENCHTOP, BEDROOM
CORIAN BENCTOP, BATHROOM

JOINERY
SPACE JOINERY PTY LTD

LIGHTING
TANGENT LIGHT

TILES
BISANNA TILES, KITCHEN
LEA CERAMICA, BATHROOM

FURNITURE
HARRY BERTOIA, CLASSIC DIAMOND CHAIR
CURTAIN & BLIND FACTORY, CURTAINS 
POLISHED CHROME FRAMED MIRROR
'PAPA BEAR' WINGBACK CHAIR, HANS J WEGNER