The Droga Apartment
Muscling into a tough urban streetscape, the Droga Apartment sits atop a 19th-century brick warehouse that acts as a plinth to its remarkable curved zinc-clad form.
Designed by Durbach Block Architects between 1996-1997, the apartment has been the recipient of the Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture and the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture. Camilla Block is one of the principal partners of Durbach Block Jaggers Architects and has taught, lectured, exhibited, judged awards and been published nationally and internationally.
The form of the penthouse is intentionally mute and sculptural, a tough response in a tough neighbourhood. This muscular exterior belies the smooth, calm and elastic interior, a distinctive mix of urban immersion and overview.
Durbach Block Architects quoted in 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Houses: three decades of domestic architecture, by Karen McCartney.
Gallery of photos
Details from the penthouse designed by Durbach Block architects. Photographs by Michael Wee for the publication 70/80/90 Iconic Australian Houses: three decades of domestic architecture, by Karen McCartney.
Published on
Related
![View of the Australian Ballet 'The sleeping beauty (detail)' [right] and the Opera Australia 'Mariana Hong in Falstaff (detail) ' and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra 'People's choice concert (detail) [left] stairwell banners - The People's House marketing & installation photoshoot](https://images.slm.com.au/fotoweb/embed/2023/11/5fa6b34f18bd4d5b9b469a42a8ae591c.jpg)
Sydney Opera House: inspired design
Kieran Larkin, Senior 3D Designer at Museums of History NSW, talked to us about some of the highlights and challenges of designing the landmark exhibition The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50, on display at the Museum of Sydney until March 2024
The coolest room in the house
What practical techniques can we learn from historical building design to minimise heat and energy consumption in our homes today?
The Astor, 1923–2023
Upon completion in 1923, The Astor in Sydney's Macquarie Stree twas the largest reinforced concrete building in Australia, the tallest residential block, and this country’s first company title residences
Visions on the future
Meet the team at Australia’s longest-running and most influential architectural practice