The George Penthouse
St Kilda, Melbourne
Residential
In March 2020, Luke Fry Architecture and Interior Design was contacted by a local client who owned two separate dwellings (built circa 2004) on the rooftop of The George, a landmark 1880s building in Melbourne’s St Kilda. The owner, who regularly travels between offices in Melbourne, Sydney and New York, wanted a home-base inspired by the cosmopolitan nature of the world’s major international cities.
Because of its unique position and heritage location, the rare site has always been a source of interest to the broader community. Keen to add to the mystique, the homeowner’s vision was for something intriguing and fascinating: a crown jewel atop the iconic building.
The resolution involved demolishing both dwellings in favour of an entirely new build. Spanning a full width 500 sqm penthouse, the extraordinary piece of real estate capitalises on the sweeping views across both the city skyline and south towards the beach. Designed in a series of scalloped columns that reflect the parapet of the original building, the rhythmic façade has been conceived in both concrete and natural stone. Resting atop six floors, a succession of windows maximises the uninterrupted beach views and an open rooftop deck further enhances the experience with an outdoor entertainment terrace and a wall strategically positioned for movie projection.
Remaining sensitive to the buildings original character whilst responding to the client brief of something progressive and ambitious meant an in-depth design process that involved extensive consultation with heritage specialists and logistical pre-planning to minimise disturbance to The George’s other occupants and public alike. The highly anticipated project is set to commence construction in 2021.
