Petersen D55 bricks deliver a contemporary building with timeless appeal in Surry Hills

In the heart of Surry Hills, where heritage terraces and warehouses ground the streets in a strong sense of history, a new commercial building feels as though it has always belonged. David Mitchell Architects’ dynamic mixed-use development in Campbell Street includes office spaces for discerning creative tenants and a ground-floor restaurant that sets the building’s tone, drawing people in and enlivening the street front with a vibrant, welcoming energy.

The well considered design more than delivers on creating a contemporary infill building that sits comfortably within its heritage surrounds. Central to achieving this was the choice of Petersen D55 bricks. Their rich, mottled texture conveying a sense of age and permanence to the facade, as though it had been always part of the streetscape, yet unmistakably modern:

“The mottled, imperfect nature of the Petersen brick was really important to us,” says David. “It helped give the building a sense of solidity and mass, but without looking brand new and ‘shiny’. We were just delighted with it when we found it, it’s just such a nice brick, and so unique. I love how rich and textured the Petersen D55 brick is. There isn’t really anything else on the market like it. And it’s nice to say they’re a Danish product; the Danes have a pretty rich history of design,” says David Mitchell, Director, David Mitchell Architects.

The simple, restrained palette of charcoal bricks, black steel-framed windows, steel detailing, and off-form concrete set back from the façade is perfect to place. Matching charcoal mortar ensures the building reads as a cohesive whole, with the brickwork the primary storyteller.

Playing with traditional brick detailing and the sense of scale and proportion of the window openings delivers a spectacular façade with a beautiful rhythm. The Petersen bricks’ handcrafted texture and tonal variation anchors the building in the street, giving it a presence that feels both familiar and contemporary: “It’s not until you stop and look at the building that you realise it’s recently constructed,” says David.

This dark palette on the outside contrasts well with the abundance of natural light flowing through each floor inside, through the window openings to the street and the lightwell at the rear. Small floor plates enabled David and his team to use refined, contemporary detailing inside to create quality spaces appealing to tenants who value design, detail and character.

With careful attention to materiality, proportion and context, 78 Campbell Street not only adds to the tradition of Surry Hill’s infill buildings but also sets a high benchmark for future developments. David’s client is so delighted with the result that they’ve already commenced another collaboration, La Strada, at 95 Macleay Street, Potts Point, where Petersen bricks, this time a unique combination of D55 and D71 tones, were instrumental in gaining Council approval and will once again define the character of a timeless, yet contemporary offering.

Architect: David Mitchell Architects

Product: Handmade Petersen D55 bricks

Bricklayer: Tim, Landmark Masonry

Photography: Mark Syke