How Cera Stribley took inspiration from Kew's parklands to design The Bradford apartments
Cera Stribley has quickly established itself as one of Melbourne's leading architecture firms.
The architecture studio, who have designed the likes of Edition in Toorak and the recently launched Louise apartments just off St Kilda Rd, was formed in 2013 by architects Dom Cerantonio and Chris Stribley, who spent years honing their skills at architect firms such as Bruce Henderson Architects and Rob Mills Architecture and Interiors.
Cera Stribley handled the design for the latest luxury Kew apartments The Bradford, developed by Jafari Group in one of Melbourne's most prestigious locales.
Presenting 10 luxury residences, designed over three levels, the building seamlessly integrates into the surrounding streetscape, cleverly divided into four smaller entities, each with their own identity to imbue a sense of privacy and individuality.
Cera Stribley Managing Principal Dom Cerantonio says The Bradford's striking signature brick exterior is a nod to the local heritage and neighbouring period dwellings, acknowledging the surrounding context while reinterpreting the past with a restrained and contemporary architectural vision.
"The Sackville ward in Kew, holds some of the most prestigious properties in Melbourne. The area has a rich history in luxury residential homes, fantastic period architecture, as well as modern architecture," Cerantonio says.
"The overall vision for the project was to create collection of apartments that felt uniquely individual and had a really strong connection to its environment.
"We designed the building with the intention of making each corner feel quite different and therefore creating an individuality for each apartment which we think is really important in providing that unique offering for the purchasers," Cerantonio added.
The architects focused on natural textures and shone a light on elegance through simplicity which is reflected in the spacious interiors, with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors optimising views and natural lighting, creating a sense of warmth and interest through light and shade, while also connecting each residence to the surrounding Kew landscape.
The generously-proportioned single-level apartments, including two penthouses, range from 95 sqm to 227 sqm, with substantial gardens and outdoor terraces from 13 sqm to 148 sqm adding to the sense of light and space
Cera Stribley Interior Designer, Jessica Coulter says one of the beautiful things about Kew is its proximity to the surrounding parkland.
“The interior palette draws inspiration from the wide, leafy green streets that surround the area, bringing in those natural textures and materiality to create these really light, bright spaces that evoke a sense of wellbeing,” says Coulter.
The material palette seen throughout The Bradford was selected for both its beauty and its durability. The use of natural materials and colour palette throughout provide a neutral backdrop for owners to make their own mark, dressing the rooms with their preferred furnishings and personal touches.
"We really had a focus on bringing in those textures and forms that are found in nature, bringing in warm timber tones, natural stones, and a play on subtle tones of soft greys," Coulter said.
Significant landscaping along the building’s two street frontages further softens the façade, with the ground-floor apartments all enjoying lush gardens, and the terrace landscaping adding to the restrained silhouette.
In aiming to create a seamless language between the architectural form and the interior, the architects brought a verticality to the rectilinear detailing, which has become a real focal point of the façade.
"We're really excited about The Bradford. We think it's fantastic project and we think it's going to create a wonderful collection of apartments which we think will suitably assimilate into the context of Kew," Coulter adds.