House tour: a concrete bunker you’ll actually want to live in

When tasked with redesigning a Camperdown warehouse into a home, award-winning interior design studio Killing Matt Woods was met with an unusual brief from its owners: to create a concrete bunker free from ornamentation and the usual Sydney coastal accents. No seaside nods. No airy adjectives. And no clichéd industrial warehouse aesthetics (ahem, exposed beams).

The loft apartment is flooded with light from a full-height glazed wall.

The two design professionals commissioning the renovation live a minimalist lifestyle and wanted their home to reflect this. The goal was to create a space free from clutter and visual pollution.

Statement lighting creates character in the space.

Inspired by stark brutalist architecture of the 50s and 60s, as well as the inner-city neighbourhood’s industrial roots, the apartment utilises the precise yet modern appeal of rendered concrete surfaces – though very little actual concrete was used. In its place is glass reinforced cement, a material with far less weight. The concrete appearance of the walls and ceiling was achieved with Porter’s Paint in French Wash.

Porter’s Paint in French Wash was used to create a concrete-look on the walls and ceilings.

Sustainability was a priority. Construction was streamlined to minimise waste and multiple environmentally responsible decisions were taken, like using finishes free from volatile organic compounds, reducing chrome and cement in the build, and only working with Forest Stewardship Council timbers.

The kitchen uses film-faced plywood on cabinets.

American Oak joinery adds warmth to the kitchen.

Offset by a pared-back palette of grey and caramel, this loft apartment offers a bold, geometric solution to inner-city living. At once utilitarian and homely as well as cave-like and light-filled, this is one very special concrete-look bunker.

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Brass fittings temper the cement-rendered bathroom.

The mezzanine bedroom overlooks the living room.

Curves add grace and interest to concrete-look ceilings.

The kitchen island has a marble bench and fluted cement base.

Furniture was chosen for its geometric lines and muted colours.

Oak joinery also features in the mezzanine bedroom.

Plants soften strong lines in the bathroom.

The mezzanine bedroom features hardwood floors.

A well-placed mirror helps create a feeling of space.

The curved lines of the sideboard balance the hard edges of the staircase.