Adaptive re-use is the catch cry of the 21st Century. Exposed brick is the sun-dried tomato of the nineties. Ever since Ghost, when Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze hooked up in their industrial style apartment in Soho, people can’t get enough loft style romance. The warehouse is suddenly everywhere. Every second magazine shows a gutted space getting just the right treatment from an über designer, giving it the Mies van der Rohe chutzpah.

In fact these days, any industrial-era warehouse has become a coveted lynch pin to the neighbourhood. Space is the ultimate luxury. With more of the population living in built-up areas the warehouse offers critical access to space. The warehouse has become a symbol of material success. And some Sydney warehouses are so damn stylish, they’re intimidating.

31 Australia Street, Camperdown. This 550sqm warehouse has a polished concrete floor, steel trusses throughout and 3 lock-up parks plus a drive-through sliding door.

What cannot be denied is how the steamy desire and steady demand for the warehouse keeps on. It’s always in vogue. Converted warehouse apartments fetch 10-20% more at auction in Sydney. Activity and interest at inspection and auction is 5-10 times as high as regular buildings. When the word warehouse appears in an advert, people get a clicking!

The ladies salivate for exposed brick, wood beams, giant windows and high ceilings they can swing from. Everything old is new again. From Tribeca to Chippendale, the warehouse is having a residential resurgence. It’s the mountaintop of suburbia. These warehouses are turning old suburbs into hot new neighbourhoods overnight. And yes ladies and gents, prices are skyrocketing.

We’ll also be sharing our pick of the slickest and grittiest around Sydney on Instagram. Follow @bresicwhitney #warehouseconversion 

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Emerging warehouse areas
The bona fide warehouse architect
Iconic warehouse Developments