Approval Granted for Smail Street Urban Living: Breathing New Life into a Historic Warehouse
May 2025
AJC Architects has received approval for an exciting new urban living project at 1–3 Smail Street, Ultimo, transforming a 100-year-old, 8-storey former warehouse into a vibrant urban community for apt.Residential.
This bold adaptive reuse project reimagines a long-vacant office building into an integrated live–work–create environment, designed for creatives and urban dwellers seeking connection, flexibility, and a sense of place. The revitalised building will include 156 urban living studios, 300m² of curated retail, 300m² of communal spaces, and a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking the Sydney skyline.
Designed with deep respect for its industrial heritage, the project showcases the building’s original timber columns, herringbone ceilings, and exposed brickwork. A new internal courtyard and skylit lightwell bring natural light and greenery into the heart of the building, creating a dynamic communal spine that connects residents and enhances wellbeing.
Externally, the building retains its strong street presence, with subtle updates including high-performance windows, increased street front glazing, and a setback rooftop pavilion surrounded by a landscaped roof garden. The development also features a mobility hub on Kettle Lane with share cars, bike and e-bike parking, scooter spaces, and a bike workshop—supporting sustainable urban transport and active lifestyles.
Juey Thanyakittikul, Development Director at apt.Residential, said:
“apt.Broadway will offer an inclusive, modern housing solution that celebrates its heritage and reflects the needs of a vibrant, evolving neighbourhood. The robust design and materials of the building will enable us to create character-rich apartments that blend historic charm and material authenticity with modern design, functionality, and technology.”
Brian Mariotti, Director at AJC Architects, said:
“This project represents the best of adaptive reuse—breathing new life into a forgotten building while preserving its identity and history. We’ve embraced the challenge of transforming an industrial warehouse into a place where people can live, create, and connect—without erasing what makes it special.”
The development sets a benchmark for sustainability and wellbeing, targeting 5 Star Green Star and Gold WELL certifications. It will operate on 100% renewable energy and is designed to achieve an estimated 80% reduction in embodied carbon, aligning with both apt.Residential’s and AJC’s commitment to future-ready, environmentally responsible design.
