“There was a wonderful sense of community,” he says. “Neighbours looking out for each other, afternoon tea parties which we hosted, gatherings in the communal garden, sending slices of cake up and down in the elevator during COVID lockdown.”
They already felt at home. The challenge was making the new apartment their own.
Rather than impose a contemporary scheme on the interiors, Draxl looked to the building’s original character for direction. Original timber floorboards were uncovered beneath floating flooring, ceiling roses reinstated and a floor-to-ceiling bookcase introduced to give the living area both architectural presence and a place for treasured possessions.
An existing cabinet, once home to the apartment’s central heating unit, is now an open shelving unit displaying glassware. The result is a home that feels collected rather than decorated, balancing the formality of its heritage with the ease of contemporary living.
“I wanted to stay true to its history rather than work against it,” Draxl says. “How would people who lived here in the ’30s have had it set up?”
The apartment’s corner position and northeast aspect do much of the work. Large windows draw sunlight deep into the rooms, while leafy treetop outlooks provide privacy and a sense of separation from the city beyond. Living and dining areas are distinct yet connected, with carefully considered furnishings allowing the spaces to shift effortlessly between quiet evenings and entertaining.
