Tony Owen Partners Architects has unveiled a contemporary residential development in the North Sydney suburb of Crows Nest.
The Astor Apartments complex uses laser cut origami screens to blend exterior landscaped areas with the interior designs of the 50 courtyard homes.
Tony Owen, director, said: "The site is located on a busy main road and is overlooked on all sides, so we designed the ‘U-shaped’ scheme to face into a quiet central landscaped courtyard which is oriented north for sun.
"All of the units are accessed from this courtyard via outdoor screened walkways. Thus the design blends landscaped areas with the internal apartment spaces."
The four-storey design, which uses a limited pallete of off-form concrete and bronze metal panels, incorporates a vertical expression and breaks down the massing into two-storey portions to reflect the terrace house character of the area.
The specially designed origami metal screens are made from laser-cut folded aluminium to provide solar shading and privacy from the adjoining properties.
They also screen the walkways which are bathed in a soft dapple light, while the aluminium paling balustrades are also folded to creates a distinctive and unique design.
Stone and timber batten fences are included to add to the earthy warmth, with the aim of enriching the area.
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