At first glance, the sleek and dramatic Unit 23 seems like a home for a single person or young married couple. But, a closer examination of the renovated 1990’s unit reveals that various design choices have been made to overcome some of the typical limitations of family life in high-density residential living.

Drawing from the belief that bigger is not necessarily better, the architects at Daarc revamped Unit 23 to cater to the needs of their young, growing family.

Simone Barr, one half of the Daarc duo, says that designing their own home meant they could build and design the apartment the way they wanted, without worrying about what is fashionable, impressing the neighbours, or the potential re-sale value.

For instance, the architects believed that draining the material palette of colour would create maximum impact and drama in the home. The resulting black and white backdrop accentuates the items and people in the home – colourful objects and family mementos, as well as everyday tools of existence.

At the same time, Amtico Random Plank XL ‘Graphite Slate’ tiles were used on the floors in the kitchen, dining and living areas.

While not naturally interesting, these vinyl tiles were specified to lengthen the perspective of the interiors and installed over a soft cork backing to meet strict acoustic requirements, something traditional stone or porcelain tiles would not have achieved.

The vinyl tiles were also suitable for application on the unit’s slightly sloped floor, a problem Barr notes must have occurred during the original construction of the block.

“This was a challenge for our joiners who were trying to install rectangular joinery into a ‘rhombus’ shaped room, but because of the flexibility of the vinyl tiles, it wasn’t a problem for the floor installation,” she says, adding that the most difficult part was selecting the set-out for the tile pattern.

In the bedroom, Tundra Carpet Tiles in Moss and Musk Ox by Signature Floors were chosen. Keeping her own forays in mind (creating an art project on her mother’s carpet as a child), Barr understood that practicality should come first, especially for families with young children.  

“We went for the carpet tiles so that if anything disastrous happened, a tile could simply be taken up and replaced,” says Barr.

“The Tundra carpet tiles provide incredible soil and stain resistance, and excellent durability commercially, so for our residential application they stand up to whatever the kids can literally throw at it!”

The carpets come with Ecospecifier Green Tag Green Rate Level A Classifications, which successfully tackle concerns about potential VOCs being released.

While Barr maintains that designing for their own needs meant they did not need to conform to current design trends or typical attitudes as to what makes a ‘home’, Unit 23 still comes off as a polished and fashionable home with design and products suitable for family living.

Photography by Scott Burrows – Aperture Architectural Photography.