The highly prominent, former Suttons Car Dealership site is bounded by 3 street frontages; Neild and McLachlan Avenues and New South Head Road.

It is part of the original Advanx Rubber Factory site and is the final piece of the development of the block.  Originally intended as a commercial development, it was converted to a 133-apartment development.  The site is master planned with 3 apartment buildings addressing the 3 street frontages with a central courtyard and retail on the ground floor. The buildings vary in height from 5 to 7 storeys.

Challenges for the site include noise and air pollution from the high-level Eastern Suburbs Railway and high traffic volume of New South Head Road.  The building along New South Head Road is an above ground car park that acts as a screen to the site with a large-scale Korban Flaubert public art work integrating a green wall and colourful footsteps on the façade.  A motor showroom is retained at street level.

Apartment buildings are entered from foyers located in Neild and McLachlan Avenues.  A small public square sits between the original Advanx development and the second one, Advanx East, in front of a retained heritage-listed warehouse.  The buildings form podium levels around the 3 street edges and transform to a stepped form that creates rooftop terraces with a communal garden above the car park.

Location: New South Head Rd, MacLaghlan Ave, Neild Ave, Rushcutters Bay, NSW 2022 -33.87058S, 151.228399E

Client:  Lindsay Bennelong

Completion date: 2014

Program: Retail, 133 apartments
Architects: DJRD & Lacoste+Stevenson,

Team: Andrew Hippwell, Thierry Lacoste, David Stevenson, Simon Howard, Melanie Schonfeld
Structural : SCP Consulting
ESD / Services: NDY (Mechanical), BSE (Electrical), Hughes Trueman (Hydraulic), John Emerson (Civil)
Landscape architect: Place design Group
Photography / images: Lacoste+Stevenson Architects & DJRD