A project recognised by the broader industry as a benchmark in quality and excellence The Abbey located in Cronulla is a boutique housing project which crafts a community of 7 homes around an existing heritage-listed Church in close proximity to the beach.

​The heritage Church is the focus of the Abbey and is treated as a feature to be celebrated. The proximity to the beach provides the lifestyle attachment to its location.

The Abbey fuses the communal “welcome all" Church spirit, the tactile craftsmanship of the heritage architecture with the relaxed, coastal lifestyle to respond with an architecture celebrating its Place.

The proposal celebrates the communal by locating two distinct buildings on either side of a significant public landscape courtyard maintaining the public spirit of the Church where all were once welcomed.

On one side are the original heritage buildings now sensitively adapted into residences and on the other are the contemporary dwellings facing towards the Church.

All dwellings are accessed via the beautifully landscaped public courtyard reconnecting the new community with the public.  The courtyard provides public access to enjoy the grounds adjacent to the Church with seated areas, paths, and landscape to enjoy. The courtyard acts as the heart of the new community connecting the public and all new residences.

The new dwellings are orientated to “face” the Church with most dwellings viewing the Church from deep within via 7m high void facing the Church.  The new dwellings alter the townhouse typology of “public” front yard- “private” backyard by combining both in the front yard. This allows for all dwellings to be participants in the public courtyard. The layers of privacy are addressed through the layering of significant lush landscaping, separation, and fencing.

The Church, Church Hall, and Church support areas have all been delicately adapted to provide a new residential use within their volumes. These spaces are dramatic with the new works reading as simple insertions into the generous spaces and original details retained.

​The palette of materials for the Abbey is inspired by the heritage tactile craftsmanship and the coastal location. The contemporary works are unapologetically contemporary. A sharp contrasting contemporary architecture is immersed with warmth and tactility with beautiful brick textures, rich Australian timber, concrete, and portions of rusted steel anchoring the development to the coast.​

AJH+ has led from commencement :

• ​Architecture 
• Interior Architecture 
• Urban Design Strategy

Awards

• 2021 National Architecture Awards - NSW Shortlisted Category Residential Multiple Housing
• 2021 UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence - Winner
• 2021 Development Excellence Awards - Winner
• 2021 Excellence in Housing Awards - Winner
• 2019 Sydney Design Awards - Architecture Proposed

Photography: Tom Ferguson