• A striking façade that merges heritage with modernity, incorporating preserved red brickwork alongside contemporary materials.

• Expansive CBD-facing views, amplifying natural light and spatial openness within the apartments.

• A generous atrium space, enhancing internal circulation and introducing a sense of luxury within the dense urban setting.

• Retail activation at ground level, engaging with pedestrian movement and local commerce.

Heritage Meets Contemporary Innovation

Ultimo is a precinct deeply rooted in Sydney’s industrial past, where red brick warehouses and repurposed heritage structures define the urban fabric. Ultimo Apartments embraces this duality, preserving the original two-storey structure while expanding upwards to introduce modern amenities essential for city living.

Lockhart-Krause’s architectural approach employs contrasting elements — a solid, heritage-informed base grounds the development, while lighter, articulated upper floors reduce visual bulk. The design’s textural interplay between raw brick, metal, and glass ensures the new structure feels integrated yet distinctly contemporary.

A Vision for Elevated Inner-City Living

The 14 residences within Ultimo Apartments are designed to maximise functionality, light, and views, offering one, two, and three-bedroom layouts that cater to diverse urban lifestyles. Generous floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Sydney CBD skyline, enhancing the sense of openness within the compact footprint.

Internally, the atrium acts as a spatial anchor, introducing natural ventilation, passive cooling, and visual connectivity between levels. Bespoke joinery and a restrained material palette create serene interiors, offering a contrast to the vibrancy of city life beyond.

Retail Activation and Community Engagement

At ground level, 200 square metres of retail space ensures that Ultimo Apartments contributes to the surrounding streetscape, reinforcing pedestrian engagement and local enterprise. Transparent glazing and a permeable frontage invite movement, while a carefully composed façade rhythm reflects the site’s industrial heritage.

By integrating active ground-floor uses, the development enhances urban connectivity, transforming the site into a node of interaction between residents, visitors, and the broader Ultimo community.

LKA’s Expertise in Feasibility-Driven Development

As part of its feasibility study package, LKA provided comprehensive insights into construction costs, investment returns, and regulatory pathways, streamlining the approval process and reducing development risk. This data-driven approach enabled the project to achieve its full spatial and financial potential, ensuring that the increased height and density translated into tangible economic and lifestyle benefits.

Shaping Sydney’s Future Through Intelligent Urban Design

Ultimo Apartments stands as a testament to LKA’s expertise in balancing heritage conservation, urban densification, and commercial viability. By redefining how contemporary residences engage with historical contexts, the project sets a new benchmark for mixed-use developments in Sydney’s evolving cityscape.

Unlock Your Project’s Potential with Lockhart-Krause Architects

Lockhart-Krause Architects specialises in transformative urban developments that optimise site potential while ensuring architectural integrity. If you’re seeking expert-led feasibility studies or a refined design strategy, contact us today to explore how we can shape your next project.