A monument to light, heritage and adaptation.

Known as The Pigeon Shed, the 735sqm residence is a commanding work of architectural vision by MCK Architects, delivering three expansive levels of living within the bones of a former industrial warehouse. From its unassuming facade, the building unfolds into a sequence of dramatic and light-filled spaces, culminating in a central triple-height void that serves as both a spatial anchor and a theatrical gesture.

The project began with a brief that was, as principal architect Mark Cashman of MCK Architecture recalls, “a very clear and detailed vision of what the new life of the warehouse would be, down to a name and a coat of arms.” The ambition was to restore the guano-filled, derelict structure to its former glory while layering in the complexity of a contemporary family home, with parallel uses as a gallery, studio, office, and large-scale entertaining venue.

The project began with a brief that was, as principal architect Mark Cashman of MCK Architecture recalls, “a very clear and detailed vision of what the new life of the warehouse would be, down to a name and a coat of arms.” The ambition was to restore the guano-filled, derelict structure to its former glory while layering in the complexity of a contemporary family home, with parallel uses as a gallery, studio, office, and large-scale entertaining venue.

“From the get-go, we have worked with existing and old fabric,” Cashman says, “and became specialised in marrying old and new through adaptive re-use. The gains from this approach were not always as crucial as they are now in our present climate crisis, but they were always a driver of creative dialogue.” This philosophy meant that timber floors were retained and restored, beams and columns left exposed, and the face brickwork carefully cleaned to reveal its original character.

One of the most striking design challenges was the absence of northern light. With no capacity to introduce openings along the northern boundary, MCK extended the building vertically, creating a full-height glass wall a metre off the rear boundary to act as a lightwell. This feature now bathes the interiors in daylight while framing views of the original brick facade. Additional outdoor spaces punctuate the home - a landscaped courtyard, an open-air dining terrace with pool, and roof terraces off the upper-level bedrooms - each designed to draw light, air, and greenery into the interior.

Inside, the spaces shift between intimate and monumental. The formal entertaining zone and gallery spaces give way to a more casual living area anchored by an expansive kitchen, while the copper-clad lift offers both practical vertical circulation and a sculptural moment. The top floor master suite enjoys elevated views, seclusion, and access to private terraces, while three additional large bedrooms ensure ample accommodation.

Cashman describes the home as “a full embodiment” of MCK’s ethos - architecture that is experiential, imaginative, and emotionally resonant. “Our combined intentions were to create a piece of architecture that allowed one to imagine and to be inspired and to enjoy the experience of moving through space and form,” he says. “It is generous enough to deliver the same to friends and visitors.”

Beyond its own considerable beauty, The Pigeon Shed is also a case study in the cultural and environmental value of preservation in design. “I am of the opinion that adaptive re-use is probably the only way forward for creating architecture and building in the current time and foreseeable future,” Cashman reflects. “It is environmentally sound in its approach and method and can also deliver creations in innovation and technique.”

With the Pigeon Shed building now being offered to market with BresicWhitney, the home offers its next custodian both a rare architectural pedigree but also a layered history - a structure that wears its past proudly while embracing the demands and desires of contemporary life. “I hope they really love and appreciate it,” says Cashman, “recognising all the love and blood, sweat and tears that goes into these creations. Having said that, I also believe that a new owner needs to make it become theirs, and a symbol of their values and aspirations and to continue the good intentions of its previous caretakers.”

View the listing: 42-44 Pine Street, Chippendale