Chippendale Warehouse Transformed into Architectural Masterpiece

Behind an unassuming brick façade in Chippendale, The Pigeon Shed is a Sydney warehouse that rewrites the rulebook on inner-city renovation. Part gallery, part residential sanctuary, the former atelier that earned its nickname thanks to a colony of wild birds that once called it home is today an architectural anomaly.

Owned by creative director Beau Neilson, the daughter of billionaire arts patron Judith Neilson and fund manager Kerr, the transformed 1914 industrial shell has been an artistic labour of love for the owner of The Vanguard in Newtown, reimagined alongside the team at MCK Architects.

Purchased in 2012 for $3.1 million, Neilson transformed the one-time dilapidated shell over a decade.

Since then, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom Chippendale property has appeared in several architectural publications, such as Habitus, Architizer and The Design Files, celebrated for its unique blend of steel, timber, marble and concrete surfaces coupled with its intelligent use of space.

The savvy reinvention of the compact 324sq m corner block footprint has resulted in 735 sq m of internal and external living space across three levels.

Although selling agent Shannan Whitney of BresicWhitney is not publicly commenting on the price guide, the home is reportedly being shopped around for about $19 million.

The one-time soap factory is being traded in by Neilson for a $20 million waterfront estate she recently bought in Double Bay, according to news reports.

The contemporary home features gallery-sized entertainment zones with dramatic high ceilings, vertical gardens and landscaped courtyards that allow for oodles of natural light and private gatherings inside and out.

The main living level houses a vast gourmet kitchen featuring a dramatically long island bench, a hidden butler’s pantry and an internal courtyard that flows seamlessly to an indoor pool. On the same level, a family room also adjoins a second internal terrace.

A unique copper-clad elevator joins all three floors, including a lower-level lounge room, a library with a secret door to a guest bedroom suite, and a separate study.

The top-level layout has three more bedrooms incorporating the upper-floor primary wing with a full-width street-facing terrace, a designer ensuite and dressing room. Each of the two remaining bedrooms has its own en-suites and shares a grand landscaped side terrace.

Additional features include a built-in solar system, hydronic heating, exposed beams and original brickwork.

Located within a short walk to UTS, Broadway, and Newtown cafes and restaurants and the CBD.

The Pigeon Shed at 42-44 Pine St, Chippendale, interest campaign with Shannan Whitney of BresicWhitney.

Along Sydney’s Parramatta River, waterfront real estate offers significantly more bang for buck than the eye-watering Eastern Suburbs.

While a house on the harbour will easily set you back more than $25 million, a five-bedroom absolute waterfront trophy home in Tennyson Point has come to market with $9 million price hopes ahead of its March 28 auction.

Listed with Michael Gallina and Cameron Brown of Belle Property North Shore, the 1,100 sq m waterside parcel last traded for $4.6 million in 2021.

The contemporary home of car dealer Nathan Sawyers and food stylist Amber De Florio borders Morrisons Bay and the local reserve, with sweeping views across the water.

“We enjoy relaxing on the alfresco balcony, capturing spectacular 180-degree views of the water, bushland and park. We have a designer fire pit by the water’s edge, and we can take a stroll in the park just outside our back gate,” Amber said.

“Our home also has a full wellness centre, including a gym and sauna, leading out to the freshwater pool and entertaining area.”

Inside the three-level home, with its 564 sq m of living space, it is no surprise that Amber’s marble kitchen features all the professional foodie bells and whistles. These include a four-metre eat-at scalloped island bench and a large butler’s pantry.

There are V-ZUG appliances throughout, including an integrated microwave, two ovens, a steam oven, Pitt gas cooktop, two fridge-freezers and two dishwashers.

Beyond the inviting front porch, the primary living level houses a spacious living and dining zone designed for large-scale entertaining. The space flows onto a covered terrace, pool area and generous lawn with direct private access to the bay.

This entry-level also features a study, a powder room, a commercial-sized laundry with a chute from the upstairs bathroom, a separate cinema room, and a self-contained one-bedroom apartment.

On the second floor, there are four more bedrooms, including the palatial main suite with a wet bar and Zip HydroTap, full-width balcony, dressing room-style walk-in wardrobe and ensuite with twin vanities and a double rain shower.

This upper level also includes a second living space opening onto the balcony, along with a family bathroom and separate toilet.

Unsurprisingly, given Sawyer’s day job, the house comes equipped with a vast five-car garage, plus an adjoining home gym or lower-ground rumpus room with wet bar, bathroom and cedar sauna.

Extra features include a hydraulic lift to all three levels, Pixie Bluetooth smart-home system, outdoor gas kitchen, underfloor heating, and a heated mosaic-tiled pool and spa with a Naked Water pool system.

The Bayview Street residence is close to popular schools and offers easy access to buses, ferries and cafés.

The home will go under the hammer on March 28, 43 Bayview St, Tennyson Point and is expected to sell for about $9 million.

Chippendale Warehouse Transformed into Architectural Masterpiece

A century-old warehouse reborn as a $19 million inner-city sanctuary, The Pigeon Shed blends gallery-scale drama with family living in a bold architectural reinvention.

A five-bedroom absolute waterfront home on Morrisons Bay offers resort-style living, sweeping views and serious entertaining credentials ahead of its March auction.