Sculpting Skylines: CARR Architects Redefine Urban Landscapes from 835 High Street

Situated on the bustling High Street of Armadale, the architecture was designed with the streetscape in mind. As is typical of Carr's projects, the architecture was not a personal statement from the architect, but rather a reflection of the surrounding environment, expressed through scale, rhythm, colour, and proportion.

Featuring an architectural language of its own, the building is characterized by a distinctive grid pattern. Every horizontal and vertical frame is precisely aligned over five levels, one atop the other in a linear pattern. These applied repeating elements - similar to music or other forms of art where shape, space, colour, and texture are used to induce rhythm - give the façade a sense of movement. This well-defined and ordered street wall creates a sense of place, which reinforces the building's identity within the streetscape.

The facades to the east and south are meticulously crafted and intricate, while those to the north and west gradually recede, enveloping and blending the form with the use of framing. The result is a sense of serenity through uniformity, and equilibrium through reiteration.

Acre sought to soften the rigid geometry of the building by introducing lush vegetation, giving each apartment a view of the greenery. To achieve this, they designed climbing structures that will be covered in foliage, cascading down the large-scale façade.

This building breathes life into the cityscape of Armadale. Its 13-metre void in the centre creates a vertical pathway to the private residential lobby. Each level is punctuated by clear glazing, offering stunning views of the city skyline. Large terraces with gardens and open spaces soften the exterior, making it a unique and inviting sight.

The design sought to create a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces. The facade's static repetition speaks to the internal spaces, creating a unified composition that brings balance and harmony between the architecture and interiors.

The exterior of the building is characterized by a sense of order and symmetry, which is echoed in the interior materials and finishes. As you enter each apartment, the muted tones of soft greys create a heightened sense of the view beyond, as if it were framed by the changing seasons.

The planning process for the apartments was based on biophilic design principles and the aim to give each home access to external views and ventilation. The result is stunning. As you enter each apartment and move through the rooms, the natural light creates a feeling of serenity and spaciousness.

The building steps back, and the interior planning works in tandem with the external grid, affording many of the secondary spaces Juliette balconies.

By having this strong relationship between the exterior and the internal spaces, the interior spaces speak for themselves and take centre stage with framed views beyond.

For every project, Acre’s objective is to connect residents to nature, and 835 High St was no different. Working with Carr, the balconies were pushed and pulled to accommodate beautiful garden outlooks from bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces.

On the rooftop, Acre designed the penthouse pool and arbours to resemble a ground-floor garden. The result is a lush landscape of plants spilling from planters, and overhead greenery that casts a dappled shade over the area.

As time passes, the landscape will blend with the architecture, creating a unique and inviting streetscape. Acre was determined to be innovative and imaginative with their results, and they believe this project will only get better with age.

Internationally renowned artist Anna–Wili Highfield has created a 12-metre-high feature piece, 'Bird', that adorns the walls of the interior lobby space with tens of small birds. This dynamic, animated void is created by the interplay of light and shadow, perfectly complementing the rich fabric of the surrounding art.