The Chocolate Factory 8 Bridge Road, Stanmore NSW

role Architecture, Interior Design value $18 million area 10,000m² completed date May 2001  

A former Chocolate Factory, a four storey warehouse building of masonry construction with deep concrete floors and an art deco façade is located in the inner Sydney suburb of Stanmore. peckvonhartel were engaged as architects to design the existing building's conversion to 87 residential apartments.

The conversion of the building required the stripping back of its interior to its core structure and the introduction of an additional level to the top of the building. The 87 new apartments comprise of a mix of one, two and three bed apartments with balconies and mezzanines. Larger apartments with substantial outdoor decks are located on the new 'penthouse' level.

Apartments are accessed from two separate lift cores, which provide residents with secure, direct access from both the ground level lobby and basement carpark. A central covered atrium pierces the centre of the building carrying light to the shared foyer at entry level and introduces natural light to the rear of the apartments framing the atrium.