Somewhere exotic, in Redfern.

What sets this particular residence apart is not just its position within the building, but the clarity of vision applied to its transformation. The apartment here has been reworked in a way that fully realises both the architectural potential of the complex and the possibilities within its own footprint.

Conceived and executed by Brad Swanson of Arc. Projects, the home reflects a deeply considered approach to space, materiality and flexibility. “It wasn’t the apartment that first caught my attention, it was the block,” Brad says. “There’s nothing else like it in the area. It feels like stepping back in time, but also somewhere closer to Spain.”

Originally conceived in the 1970s as a restaurant and bar, the structure retained much of its original fabric - copper gutters, slender steel-framed windows and a robustness rarely seen today. “It had largely been unchanged,” Brad says. “The building still has the original copper gutters and thin-framed steel windows - the kind of elements you’d pay a premium for today.”

Working within this framework, the redesign introduces a two-level layout across approximately 100sqm, anchored by soaring ceilings and skylit interiors. The result is a home that feels expansive yet efficient, equally capable as a two-bedroom residence or a generous one-bedroom with a dedicated study.

“When you’re the builder, designer and client, you’re in a position to make quick decisions and act on them,” Brad says. “Other choices can then evolve over time - alignments, junctions, material transitions. Nothing major on their own, but they come together to shape the outcome.”

Flexibility became the guiding principle. Rather than assigning rigid functions to each zone, the design allows spaces to shift and adapt. “In a compact footprint, you can’t afford leftover or undefined space,” he explains. “Every element has to be considered, both in how it functions day to day and how it contributes to the overall layout.”

This thinking is perhaps best expressed in the home’s concealed moments - storage integrated within joinery, under stairs and into walls, and a cleverly designed bed drawer that disappears when not in use. “It’s a full double bed tucked under the stairs,” Brad says. “It allows the space to operate as a living area most of the time, while still accommodating guests comfortably.”

Materiality plays an equally important role in shaping the home’s atmosphere. Drawing on his background as a carpenter, Brad leans into texture and warmth rather than contrast. “Timber is always my first instinct, and specifically Australian hardwoods,” he says. “Blackbutt plays a big role in the apartment’s warmth. Most of the other elements are pared back - it’s less about contrast and more about texture.”

There is also a deliberate dialogue between the apartment and its setting. “Because I fell in love with the building, it felt natural to borrow from its palette,” Brad says. “We used a similar rough-textured render, continued terracotta tiles internally, and expressed the mezzanine structure to reference the building’s eaves.”

That connection extends beyond aesthetics. The shared courtyard - sunlit, communal and quietly social - becomes an extension of the home itself. “It’s a great place to sit, share meals and catch up with the neighbours,” he says. “There’s a real sense of community within the building.”

Positioned directly opposite Casba marketplace and moments from the design-led precinct of Danks Street, the apartment sits within a neighbourhood that has evolved significantly in recent years. “Redfern has changed a lot, even in the seven years we’ve been there,” Brad reflects. “We’ve loved being part of it, and raising our kids there. We spent a lot of time at Kepos Street Kitchen, and I’ll miss the French patisserie across the road - especially the smell in the morning. Things like Christmas drinks in the courtyard are part of what made it special.”

As the next chapter begins just a short distance away, the apartment remains as a considered expression of design thinking - one that demonstrates how even a concise footprint can be reimagined into something generous, flexible and deeply connected to its surroundings.

View the listing: 31/8 Phillip Street, Redfern