This steep site in Scarborough – previously home to a deteriorating old duplex – has been sensitively redeveloped to create an ultra-modern, multi-storey residential complex.

Rather than constructing a single monolithic structure, the apartments – comprising four two-bedroom and six one-bedroom units – are pulled apart and arranged in pairs. This enables the buildings to follow the contours of the land and respond to the hilly terrain.

As a result, each apartment takes advantage of views across a deep valley towards the Indian Ocean, about 500 metres away. They also benefit from abundant natural daylight and cross-flow sea breezes.

Upper level apartments have distinctive balconies – cantilevering up to 5 metres; these enhance the sense of inhabiting the tree canopy and accentuate distant ocean views.

Contemporary design and construction techniques helped to overcame the site’s constraints while providing modern services – including two levels of basement carparking, storerooms and secure lock up areas – beneath a suspended ground floor slab.

Perched above the slab, the lightweight timber-framed apartments pay homage to the 1950’s and ‘60’s fibro shacks, acting as a visual reminder of the beachside homes that have mostly disappeared from Scarborough in recent decades.