The only way is up

When it came to its design for the Paramount House hotel in Sydney’s Surry Hills, local firm Breathe Architecture looked not only to the site, a 1930s warehouse, but to the adjacent art deco buildings around it and its film precinct location. Building a grand extra storey off the original roof level, the firm covered the whole in an angular chevron facade of perforated and opaque copper tiles, part of the Aurubis Nordic Standard range. With either brick or glass behind, the design allows for ‘curated’ views of the city as well as modifying the strong Australian light and reducing glare. Breathe Architecture said: ‘The delicate jewel-like Nordic Copper chevron crown captures the spirit and excitement of the golden era of film. The project explores the narrative between artefact and ornament, of place and of home.’