The Lachlan Art Deco apartments at 9 St Neot Avenue is almost hidden in its streetscape. It is nestled behind a large fig tree which provides a graceful and generous umbrella of mottled shade even in the height of the Sydney summer sun.

St Neots Avenue runs west off Wylde Street. It pivots off its corner hexagonal-shaped pocket park, St Neots Reserve, with its carefully coiffured lawns, Agapanthus, heritage seating, a water bubbler and dog water bowl and a bus stop. It takes its name from the birthplace of the owner of the former mansion on the site, Grantham, St Neot’s village in Cornwall, England.

Grantham mansion was built in 1836 and demolished in 1937 and the land subdivided. Grantham Street nearby is named after atter the former estate.

All the buildings in St Neots Avenue including Lachlan have three things in common, the three Ss, ie., generous setbacks, green settings and an enclaved overall streetscape value.

Today’s locals, particularly in higher density areas such as Potts Point, realise that beauty is linked to the scale, setting and the bulk of buildings.

A UK study has found that living amid ugliness makes childhoods unhappier.

A new group, Street Level Australia, is pursuing greater beauty in city architecture. It’s founder, Millie Main, says promoting gentle design reduces opposition to development.

She says “the answer is right in front of us. Here in Sydney, it’s St Neot’s Avenue in Potts Point.”

Lachlan is a four-level boutique block with 20 apartments and is reported to have been a former hotel. It is built in the Art Deco style with mosaic front steps, a sweeping interior wrought iron balustrade, steel window frames, stratified coloured brickwork and cantilevered windows with a vertical “tower” design element, a typical Art Deco signature feature. The front door handle is a particularly strong piece of industrial strength design.

It was designed by Charles Christian who also designed Ulverstone nearby at 65A Elizabeth Bay Road.

By Andrew Woodhouse Heritage Solutions