In the right hands, architecture and urban design can serve as bridges between built environments and their unique cultural and natural contexts.
The most inspiring structures don’t merely exist on a site — they respond to, enhance and often reimagine their surroundings. Consider how iconic designs such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, in the US state of Pennsylvania, and Gaudí’s Sagrada Família in Barcelona reflect a deep understanding of place, rooted in local materials, traditions and landscapes.
This philosophy shapes the work of Daniel Goldberg, the London-based founder of the multidisciplinary design studio State of Craft. “I feel that the most liveable, timeless and beautiful projects are typically the result of a specific design response to the context of a site,” he says. “There is a sense of appropriateness to internal spaces that derive their integrity from being sensitive to the architecture, the outdoors, the local culture, history and climate.”
When tasked with conjuring the interior world of Sydney’s latest skyline addition, One Sydney Harbour, Goldberg turned his attention to the surrounding water and sky.
“Our interiors equally embrace and celebrate the beauty of Sydney, the ever-changing sky and the drama of the ocean,” says Goldberg of the trio of Barangaroo waterfront residential towers designed by the architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with Lendlease.
Echoing the faceted glass skin of the luxury apartments, which reflects the surrounding natural and neighbourhood scenery, the interiors are also the “support act” to the environmental context, Goldberg explains.
“Our focus was on the generous use of beautiful natural finishes with honest, solid detailing and great craftsmanship,” he says. Residential buyers selected from optional colour palettes of finishes and textures, from bolder, darker hues to muted light greys and whites. “Where possible, we sourced local timbers such as spotted gum and blackbutt, which add tactility and warmth,” Goldberg says.
Set against textured limestone floors, the result is intended to evoke the sensory experience of walking barefoot along the Sydney shoreline. “The meticulous sourcing of the natural ‘ingredients’ is close to our heart, and part of our untreated design process,” he says.
Sophistication reigns at One Sydney Harbour. But, as Goldberg posits, luxury is an evolving concept that extends beyond materials and finishes. “It’s about designing a sanctuary — spaces that lift the spirit and create moments of calm in our fast-paced lives,” he says.
Each of the development’s three towers includes exclusive, wellness-oriented spaces akin to those in luxury hotels. Referenced collectively as The Club, they extend beyond the typical gym or pool.
The Pool House, with its connected spa suite, adjoining steam room, sauna and massage spaces, is inspired by the lush, crystalline rock pools of the Blue Mountains. “We clad the space in deep green marble to evoke that sense of swimming in a forest pond,” Goldberg says. “Research shows that green can promote a sense of balance and calm. We wanted residents to feel that tranquility, that sense of escaping into nature.”
On level two, The Garden Terrace provides a lush, private outdoor escape overlooking Watermans Cove, featuring native Australian plants and stunning views of the harbour. “It’s a space designed for connection, both with nature and the city,” Goldberg says.
One Sydney Harbour’s design philosophy represents a shift toward wellness-centred living — an approach the Global Wellness Institute notes as increasingly prevalent in top-tier developments worldwide.
For Goldberg, this trend is long overdue. “Luxury today is about creating spaces that nurture,” he says. “The Club, the terraces, the subtle details inside — everything is about lifting the spirit and supporting residents’ wellbeing.”
