Rediscovering a lost jewel through adaptive reuse

Originally constructed as a row of Victorian-era shops fronting Oxford Street, this heritage building has been adapted for a new life as part of a series of boutique serviced apartments.

New Life Bondi Junction serviced apartments is part of a large-scale redevelopment at the eastern end of Oxford Street, offering stylish, contemporary urban living. We guided the detailed restoration of the historic façade, returning the community to a distinctive and delightful piece of our past. An often overlooked gem, the sadly deteriorated façade on Oxford Street was, in fact, brimming with hidden Victorian grandeur. NBRS documented and guided the works required to conserve, restore and enhance its heritage value, creating a landmark building in the streetscape.

Adaptive Reuse
Adaptive reuse of heritage places involves a complex balance between the achievement of client/user requirements, the contemporary expectation of facility standards, statutory compliance and great heritage outcomes. NBRS Heritage offers extensive experience with a broad range of building types, functions, materials and structures, enabling responsive heritage advice, design and documentation expertise to allow heritage places' sustainable and ongoing use.

In ornate Victorian tradition, the architectural character of the façade is highly detailed, boasting a range of traditional finishes, including patterned ceramic wall tiling, tuckpointed brickwork, decorative rendered motifs and statuary, including a pair of striking female figures and a series of busts mounted proudly on the pediment.

One of the particular delights of this project was the unexpected engagement with the community during the construction works. Due to the prominent location of the site and the way the façade revealed itself during the conservation works, we found ourselves not only explaining the story of the place to those working on site but also being bailed up by curious passers-by delighting in the rediscovery of this gem.

New Life Bondi Junction, developed by TWT property, contains 72 apartments complimented by ground-level retail in the former shopfronts of the heritage building. This contemporary development incorporates the restored Victorian façade within the raised podium, including incorporating the highly decorative original balconies as an integral part of the new apartments.