Madeleine Blanchfield Architects renovated an apartment in The Astor, a State Heritage building from the early 1920s in Sydney, Australia. Designed by Esplin and Mould in the Interwar Free Classical Style, the building features reinforced concrete frame construction and steel windows typical of early prestige apartment buildings.

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The original apartment had a cramped separate kitchen, outdated bathroom, and accumulated modifications from previous decades. The architects stripped the interior to its shell and reconfigured the layout to maximize views and highlight heritage features. They opened the kitchen to adjacent spaces, redesigned the bathroom, and added a discrete laundry area.

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New elements include an entry foyer with gentle curved walls and sheer curtains with integrated lighting troughs throughout the apartment. The design restores original details like skirting boards that had been replaced over time. Custom built-in joinery, feature lighting, and area rugs complete the updated interior.

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The renovation demonstrates how contemporary interventions can enhance rather than compete with heritage architecture. By removing accumulated changes and opening key spaces, the design allows the building's 1920s character to emerge while meeting current living requirements.

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The project balances preservation of significant architectural elements with practical updates needed for modern apartment living in one of Sydney's historically important residential buildings.