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THE URBAN
Escape
It’s an iconic building; ask anyone who makes the trek through Southbank and they’ll know exactly which you refer to. The Dock Street Warehouse’s multi-award winning rejuvenation, designed by Surroundings and carried out by MCD Constructions, has been supreme. WORDS: Natasha Pavez PHOTOGRAPHY: Camera Obscura 75
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ver lunch – lemon ricotta chicken in proscuitto, if you're interested – Lesley Anne (affectionately known as LA) was more than happy to tell us how she came to own the Dock Street Warehouse. "We were living in a modern, boxy home in Taringa," she says. "We did mean to downsize – we thought we could get an apartment here or across the river. We randomly stumbled across this home on a Sunday. On the following Thursday, we bought it." Starting life as a warehouse in the 50s, it was a double-storey home when LA and Andrew were handed the keys. Had a building inspection been carried out, LA admits she would have probably abandoned the entire project. "There wasn't any single part of this house that was easy," says Cameron McDonald of MCD Constructions. "There was so much consideration from everyone. From the moment I saw Surroundings' sketch-up of the design, I was so excited to do it." Suzie Wiley, architect at Surroundings, agrees. "Everything had to be perfect. The attention to detail is pretty extraordinary."
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Entering the space, the appeal is instant – whether it's the sense of home permeating the space, or the stunning surrounds, it's hard to say. The outdoors live inside in the form of a courtyard, filled with towering frangipanis that make their way up two storeys. "We wanted the home to be a journey through spaces," explains Laura Pascoe, architect at Surroundings. "From the different areas, you can see the garden – it's a really nice view in a house without a yard, and acts as the central feature to the entire space." The creative scope of landscape designer Darryl Mappin (of Mappin Design Group) led to the tiled, bland courtyard becoming what it is now, a sublime mini-park in the midst of Brisbane's urban landscape. "You have courtyards," says Cameron. "This? It's like a forest." On the lower level, a guest's sanctuary is light-filled and self-contained, featuring hand-crafted lights in the bathrooms and artwork from LA and Andrew's collection. The flexibility of space – and the ability to 'retreat' and escape to secluded spaces in their home – was key for the couple, a design statement echoed throughout the home. "It's a very shared space, created with the intention to share with different people."
Counting Down A unique piece of Australian history lies on the exposed brick wall – the old lighting board from ABC’s Countdown Studios, with still-moving switches and linear design
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Lady of Letters The library’s warmth and old-world vibrancy make it perfect for plenty of occasions, from relaxing with a novel to hosting a meeting in luxe surrounds
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The second floor hosts LA's two favourite spaces: the library and gourmet kitchen ("we spent a lot of time on these"). Trailing into the library, it's obvious why. An exposed brick wall meets rustic timber floors (formerly railway sleepers, Laura explains), creating a sense of warmth and vibrancy. It's something out of a tale as old as time, especially when you look out the windows either side. Out one, the frangipani forest looms below; out the other, a striking portrait by Guido van Helten almost blends into the courtyard wall, serene in its beauty. The kitchen offers that same sense of contempo-classic style, with aged copper detailing and white tiled feature walls working to make the space look better the more it's used. "The materials in this house are really about creating that sense of age and history," says Laura. "There's this idea that the space will change over time." A butler's pantry, tucked around the corner and lined with LA's collection of framed degustation menus, acts as a servery for dinner parties and entertaining in the home.
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“THE MATERIALS IN THIS HOUSE ARE REALLY ABOUT CREATING THAT SENSE OF AGE AND HISTORY,” SAYS LAURA. “THERE’S THE IDEA THAT THE SPACE WILL CHANGE OVER TIME.”
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The artwork is varied throughout the home – whether it's a piece sourced from art galleries or from traditional communities in Alice Springs, each piece was strategically placed through the home for optimum visual effect. In Melbourne, the team found a piece of Australian history – the old lighting board from ABC's Countdown studios, a tactile piece now sitting proudly on the wall. It's there to stay no matter what the years bring; at 300kg, no one would be in a rush to move it. It teams perfectly with furniture and styling pieces sourced by interior designers Jacks Corner Design and SuperAverage, creating an effortlessly stylish space both inside and out. Connecting each level is what Suzie terms the 'spine' of the home – an incredible staircase, featuring aged steel in a ribbonstyle design and raw brass screening to act as a balustrade. "I wanted a loft-style connection between the levels," LA says. The master bedroom is minimalist and natural, a beautiful look that translates perfectly to relaxation. The wallpaper stretching around the room was handpainted by Laura ("it was the biggest painting I've ever done," she laughs), in a flowing, organic design. Up a few stairs, LA and Andrew's ensuite beckons. The same crisply classic theme in the kitchen translates here, with brass finishes sourced from The English Tapware Company adding a sense of age to the space. A variation on his-and-hers sinks allows the pair to have their own space, while still shared. And again, the more it's used, the better it looks. The room takes advantage of bright Brisbane light through two skylights. "With neighbours nearby, we couldn't have windows," says Laura. "We decided to introduce daylight through the skylights instead."
“IT’S A VERY SHARED SPACE, CREATED WITH THE INTENTION TO SHARE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.” Panorama Boasting views of Southbank that most don’t often see, the rooftop garden and entertaining area is, in a word, paradise
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Finishing it off is a rooftop garden, with soaring views across the Brisbane River and CBD. It's a place you can't imagine leaving, not willingly; it's the perk, LA says, of living in a house designed just for her. "It all flows and comes together in a really natural way," she says. "From the builders to the designers, the collaboration in creating this space means it just works."