The faà§ade of a Church hall built in 1912 in a 'Federation Free Style' has been artfully blended into the design of a boutique residential development in cosmopolitan Surry Hillsin Sydney's inner east.
The 22-apartment complex in Buckingham Street provides a visually pleasing transition between the site’s somewhat chequered past and its future.
The Kirk, which is derived from the Scottish word for Presbyterian church, the four-storey building takes some visual cues from the church hall, such as the vertical proportions of the windows and the rhythms of the original façade.
But architect John Baker of Baker Kavanagh intends the new structure to complement the historic façade, rather than clone it. “It’s a completely new building, unashamedly modern and designed for today’s lifestyle, but also designed to contribute and respect the cultural history of the site,” said Mr Baker.
Kirk includes a mix of one-bedroom (with and without studies) and two-bedroom apartments, some designed as two-storey lofts with voids. The concentration on smaller apartments reflects the demographics of Surry Hills where 52% of the 25,146 residents are aged between 20 and 39 – 19% higher than the Sydney-wide average.
“A significant proportion of households in Surry Hills comprise one person or one couple so we have designed the apartment types to reflect this demand,” said Mr Baker, whose practice has been located in the area for many years.
“Because Kirk is so close to Prince Alfred Park and swimming pool, and with so many other gyms and amenities in the area, we decided against including those communal facilities within the building,” says Baker.
“Interestingly, our research shows that the most popular way for Surry Hills residents to get to work is by foot, and many households in the area are car-free.” ,” says Colliers Bill Aslanidis.
Just two kilometres from the GPO, Surry Hills provides a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a myriad of cafes, bars, theatres, boutiques, galleries, parks and recreational facilities. Australian Property Monitors reports that apartment prices in Surry Hills increased by 15% over the past 12 months to an average of $434,586 (median price: $390,000).
“Surry Hills is one of Sydney’s most desired suburbs so there will undoubtedly be owner-occupier demand for apartments in Kirk,” said Mr Aslanidis. “I’m also confident there will be interest from investors as it is the right style of product in the right location. And, because it is a boutique building without expensive facilities, strata levies will be low.”
Kirk ranges in price from $380,000 up to $750,000.
“It’s stunning, modern and refined – just like the kitchen with its sleek cabinetry, designed to enhance the living spaces,” said Mr Baker.
Kirk is being developed by ASVP Construction – named after the initials of the fledgling company’s principals Ade Sawitto and Vince Papallo – which is breathing new life not only into the disused church hall but into the public park next door as part of its contributions to improving the neighbourhood.
Across the road and to the south of Kirk is Cleveland House, an early 19th century colonial mansion listed on the State Heritage Register.
Kirk, at 47-49 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills is open for inspection by appointment through Bill Aslanidis (0418 294 058) of Colliers International on Ph: 9257 0228.
