{"id":538034,"date":"2026-07-22T05:03:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T05:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/538034\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T05:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T05:03:17","slug":"ray-hadley-former-2gb-host-praises-sydneys-unique-lacebark-apartment-building-for-its-design-and-privacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/538034\/","title":{"rendered":"Ray Hadley: Former 2GB host praises Sydney\u2019s unique Lacebark apartment building for its design and privacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Julie<\/p>\n

July 22, 2026 \u2014 11:30am<\/p>\n

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Radio broadcaster Ray Hadley bought his new apartment in the unusually shaped block called Lacebark in Sydney\u2019s north-west overlooking his golf club because it was \u201cconvenient, and across the road from the hospital\u201d.<\/p>\n

Downsizing from a town house in the next suburb, Hadley told Lacebark\u2019s architect William Smart on Monday that he hadn\u2019t thought much about its design until he moved in a month ago.<\/p>\n

\"RetiredRetired radio broadcaster Ray Hadley says the block he calls home is like the Opera House of the area with its curves.Sam Mooy<\/p>\n

Meeting Smart over coffee, the former morning radio host with a view on everything, said Lacebark was the \u201cmost unique \u2013 yet functional \u2013 building\u201d he had ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be astounded if it didn\u2019t win all the awards because it looks like the Opera House with all the curves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

His prediction was spot on. Lacebark, in the town centre of the growing Norwest Quarter precinct, designed by Smart Design Studio, is one of two NSW multi-residential projects out of six nationally to be shortlisted today for the 2026 Australian Institute of Architects\u2019 national architecture awards.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Architecture<\/a><\/p>\n

It won NSW\u2019s highest award for multi-residential housing, the Aaron Bolot Award and won the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards 2026 for a mixed development. It is now shortlisted for other awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be a landmark long after I\u2019ve gone,\u201d said Hadley, who retired from 2GB two years ago after 43 years. As someone who has bought and sold a range of properties, and reported on current affairs and politics, Hadley understands zoning, state regulations, and can talk square metres size, and price points with the best.<\/p>\n

\"Lacebark,Lacebark, designed by Smart Design Studio, won the multi-residential category of the 2026 NSW architecture awards. It is now shortlisted in the national awards.Veronique Jenkins<\/p>\n

Clad in a white brick, Lacebark is divided into sculptural wings.<\/p>\n

It was shaped by the need to reduce the worst of summer heat in Sydney\u2019s north-west where it can be at least six degrees hotter than coastal suburbs, make the most of the winter sun in much colder winters, and provide private and generous sized balconies with brick balustrades.<\/p>\n

\"ArchitectArchitect William Smart, the founder of Smart Design Studio, feeling the joy of Lacebark\u2019s solid brick balconies that provide privacy and protection.Sam Mooy<\/p>\n

Sydney architect Chi Melhem, director of EM BE CE and a member of the NSW jury, said what made Lacebark exceptional was that architecture, sustainability and livability were inseparable. \u201cThe same design moves that give the building its distinctive identity also improve solar access, privacy, durability, ventilation and comfort,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Melhem said Smart\u2019s design had resulted in some unusual spaces \u2013 including circular walls in Hadley\u2019s apartment.<\/p>\n

Privacy is important for someone like Hadley who is recognised and greeted like a long-lost friend, and who seems to know every tradie in the suburb.<\/p>\n

He recalled living in a block on the Gold Coast where neighbours in an identical building next door could be seen walking around naked in the bathroom because the glass was clear.<\/p>\n

In contrast, his wife Sophie said the privacy at Lacebark was excellent. It is one of a few blocks built or being developed by Mulpha Norwest.<\/p>\n

Glass balconies have been the default option in public and private apartments in Australia for nearly 40 years. They look good on renders, but once completed, they fill with junk and provide little privacy, or shade or insulation.<\/p>\n

Smart, the founder of Smart Design Studio, has been on a mission to replace them with brick. Standing on a busy Sydney street recently with other architects, he pointed at balconies cluttered with \u201ca dog kennel, the sides of so many beds, lots and lots of washing, a few dead plants, barbecues, bikes pushed together, and washing lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is exactly why you shouldn\u2019t be doing glass balconies,\u201d he was telling them when nearby pedestrians started giggling. Smart said: \u201cWe looked up and could see a couple of people shagging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Carrie<\/a><\/p>\n

Other winners of this year\u2019s awards for new apartments, including those providing affordable and public housing, have ditched glass balconies, or opted for opaque glass.<\/p>\n

Hallelujah, said former state architect Peter Poulet. At last, said others.<\/p>\n

Piling junk on a balcony is something that people of all incomes do. Yet, there is more stigma for those on lower incomes.<\/p>\n

Architect Dan Szwaj, a director of Turner, said they often used solid balustrades with a glass panel at the top in affordable housing projects. It provides privacy up to the waist, and light and ventilation above. \u201cThere\u2019s dignity about having your own space and not being judged on how you look after it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Philip Oldfield, head of built environment in the architecture faculty at UNSW, said the first \u201call glass\u201d apartments were built in Chicago in 1951, so the shift was \u201cnot before time\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re finally waking up to the failings of having highly transparent buildings \u2013 no shade, lack of privacy,\u201d said Oldfield. He was a fan of modern Iranian apartments (which resemble Lacebark\u2019s). Glass balconies could influence strata rules, he said, which often ban balconies from being used to dry clothes.<\/p>\n

Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"JulieJulie Power<\/a> is a senior reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"July 22, 2026 \u2014 11:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":538035,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,111,139,69],"class_list":["post-538034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=538034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538034\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/538035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=538034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=538034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=538034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}