Property of the week: 23 Barr St, Balmain

Artist Sandra Leveson is known for her luminescent paintings and prints, embracing vibrant colours and abstract textures in her work. So it comes as no surprise that her private home and studio of the last four decades has been a grand converted warehouse brimming with natural light and oodles of open space.

The one-time chemical warehouse in Sydney’s inner west is an extraordinary urban transformation blending a raw industrial palette with a savvy floorplan to create a unique work-from-home experience. Simultaneously a home, a studio and a gallery, Leveson’s Balmain bolthole is a testament to her artistic legacy and creative mind.

Selling agent Danny Cobden of Cobden Hayson, who is taking the property to market with a $7 million price guide, said the rare listing is an opportunity for a buyer with vision.

“It’s such a truly unique offering for Balmain. Warehouse residences do come up, but they’re pretty rare and this particular one hasn’t been to market in about 40 years,” he said.

“This is certainly very liveable as is, but it’s also an extraordinary blank canvas for somebody new to come in and put their own stamp on it.”

There is plenty of outdoor space incorporated into the building

Measuring 535sqm of internal living space, the residence sits on a 573sqm block incorporating ample room for outdoor entertaining, storage and parking. The former atelier features a striking 29m-long facade with a dramatic sawtooth roofline providing spectacular double-height vaulted ceilings and plenty of floor space. Elevated steel-framed windows, exposed steel beams and a contemporary mezzanine upper level layout are reminiscent of Manhattan’s coveted lofts but rarely seen in Sydney.

The vast open plan ground floor space is anchored by a huge L-shaped entertaining gallery and living room punctuated by a central fireplace. While the high roof line and cavernous space are showstoppers in themselves, the piece de resistance is the 11m by 3m pool and private sundeck sitting at centre stage in a rooftop terrace visible from almost every corner of the property. Under the pool, there is hidden storage, as well as a laundry.

A sawtooth roofline allows for plenty of natural light to penetrate without compromising on privacy.

The commercial-grade eat-in kitchen has stainless steel surfaces and appliances and the ground floor also houses one bedroom with an ensuite, plus a self-contained one-bedroom apartment.

Up on the second level, two open plan bedrooms overlook the gallery space with two bathrooms, a dressing room and a second living area.

Additional amenities include a secure lock-up garage with a 3m clearance and loading bay, off-street parking and a lush tropical entry garden. The quiet cul de sac position tucked behind Darling St is close to Ann Cashman Reserve.

The Balmain warehouse has a price guide of $7 million and is on the market with Cobden Hayson via expressions of interest, closing September 25. For more information contact Cobden Danny Cobden on 0411 144 210.

A bold architectural statement in Melbourne’s inner east, this unique Glen Iris home marries sculptural design with sophisticated family living in a remarkable real estate relationship.

Conceived by Pandolfini Architects, with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the custom-built four-bedroom, two-level home was crafted for its current owners but is now coming to market for the first time.

Listed via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Marshall White agents Rae and Hugh Tomlinson and Mandy Zhu, 8 Erica Ave is on the market with price expectations of $7.5 million to $8 million.

Its dramatic street appeal sets the tone for what’s to come, because beyond the contemporary façade sits a modern residence unlike any other.

Pandolfini’s team brief was to create an inviting home made from hard-wearing materials, with a palette inspired by ancient ruins and old industrial buildings.

The result is striking, cantilevered terracotta brickwork and a patinated copper-screened exterior that borrows hues from the classic neighbouring cottages.

One within the home, the Erica Ave property unfolds across three interconnected pavilions positioned along the deep block. Long gallery hallways are framed by floor-to-ceiling glass to showcase garden and pool views, making the most of the 886 sq m site.

Raw, heavily textured walls create an industrial aesthetic inside and out, while curious “upside-down” arched windows introduce a creative architectural twist.

At the heart of the home, the central living and dining zone is divided by a sculptural fireplace rendered in hard plaster. High barn-style spotted gum timber ceilings rise above bush-hammered concrete walls with Roman travertine floors, and American oak joinery.

In the marble kitchen, there are premium Wolf and Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, an integrated study nook, and a bespoke curved window that wraps around a custom-made banquette dining space.

Walls of glass frame the north-facing terrace where a heated swimming pool and spa are enveloped by private landscaped gardens with an integrated barbecue setting.

Within the front pavilion, the large parents’ retreat features built-in and walk-in wardrobes, a dresser, and a travertine ensuite with a freestanding bathtub, rain shower, and a dual-marble vanity. Also on the ground floor is a second bedroom and a media room with a built-in daybed and a picture window overlooking the yard.

One floor up via the curved staircase with skylight, there are two more bedrooms with terrazzo bathrooms, study spaces, and leafy outlooks.

Car enthusiasts not only have a single lock-up garage on Erica Ave, but an additional rear showroom-style five-car pavilion or grand studio accessed via Irymple Ave. It has a high vaulted ceiling, a concealed in-floor Maha car lift, a workbench, and a sink.

Added extras include a mud room, laundry with side access, in-floor heating and climate control within the engineered European oak floors, deluxe joinery, and CCTV security.

The Glen Iris home is within walking distance of Central Park Village, Harold Holt Swim Centre, and Gardiner Station, as well as popular schools including Sacré Cœur, Korowa, and Caulfield Grammar.

The Pandolfini-designed house at 8 Erica Ave, Glen Iris is listed with Marshall White for $7.5 million to $8 million via an expressions of interest campaign.

Property of the week: 23 Barr St, Balmain

An extraordinary warehouse conversion in the inner west delivers in spades on luxury living

Crafted by Pandolfini Architects with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the Glen Iris residence pairs industrial-inspired design with refined contemporary living and a five-car showroom pavilion.