A Clare Cousins Apartment In An Iconic Melbourne CBD Building

We very first featured Dan Honey and Paul Fuog’s beautifully understated and incredibly purposeful condominium in 2013, when they’d been living in it for just about a 12 months. Now, 9 yrs on, the couple and their daughter have determined the time is right to put their beloved, compact abode on the sector in purchase to find a property that has a ‘bit extra separation.’

‘We adore the perception of connectedness the condominium gives,’ claims Dan. ‘Living right in the middle of the town signifies we never ever really feel isolated dwelling here.’

Locals will very likely know the iconic facade of this Flinders Lane apartment setting up known as Bible House, built in 1898 through the city’s heyday, by architect and city planner Frank Stapely. In 1911 the making was acquired by the British and Foreign Bible Society to be used to distribute bibles from the shopfronts, hence the name, and in 1994 the developing was transformed into the 17 residential flats still standing today. 

Whilst the creating continue to resembles its 1898 originals externally, internally, the apartments have been significantly upgraded to match modern-day-day city dwelling. Dan and Paul engaged renowned architect Clare Cousins to support them with their redesign, which involved entirely gutting the inside to make way for a much more modern day, minimal and flexible place. 

The new bedroom, for instance, is a ‘bed platform’ enclosed in simple joinery and a great deal of in-built storage that separates it from their daughter’s bed room. A few colourful, sliding screens enable this place to develop into element of the dwelling home when open up, and a completely personal bedroom when shut. 

‘Before the renovation the 1 bed room was a horrible measurement, with only 50cm on both side of the mattress,’ states Paul. ‘It was just large more than enough to make a mess in, but not big enough to seriously take pleasure in. Both equally bedrooms are like tiny hideaways now, serving no other perform than enjoyable and a area to snooze.’

They also prolonged the kitchen area, overhauled the bathroom, had the floorboards sanded and the walls painted a crisp white. ‘The material palette was retained neutral and warm all over,’ explains Dan. ‘It created fluidity and spaciousness.’ 

Soaring 3.8 metre ceilings and large, operable arched home windows along the northern walls offer the supreme sense of place. 

Paul suggests, ‘Having all the home windows open with the summer time breeze coming by is fairly unique, and not what you anticipate to encounter dwelling right in the town.’ 

Aside from the early Friday morning tram excursions to Vic Sector to choose up deliver for the week forward, and the capability to live and get everywhere devoid of a motor vehicle, what the few will miss most about their iconic condominium is dwelling in the coronary heart of the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

‘Melbourne is a gorgeous city, and it has been a delight becoming immersed in the grand architecture on a day-to-day basis,’ claims Dan. ‘It’s generally uplifting.’

301/241 Flinders Lane is mentioned with Sam Fenna at Belle Residence and will go to auction on Saturday Oct 22 at 1:00pm.