Scandinavian Freestyle
CENTRAL MELBOURNE, 2018A stylish new entry lobby space has been designed for the Hero Apartments by MvS Architects and Fiona Abicare in association.
Completed in 1954, the former Russell Street Telephone Exchange & Post Office, designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works, is a unique multi-storey CBD building.
Influenced by European Modernism, particularly the Amsterdam School and Scandinavian Freestyle Classicism, the cream-brick structure was redeveloped in 2001 into Hero Apartments by Nonda Katsalidis Architects. The design features intersecting vertical planes, structural
plates, and green columns, with Scandinavian Freestyle enhancing the foyer’s materiality and natural light.
Functional objects like seating and mail retrieval units were designed for both utility and aesthetics, while drapery, upholstery, and artwork further enhance the space.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER BENNETTS