Mondrian Waterloo Sydney

About

Environmentally Conscious Design

Architected by Stanisic Associates Architects

Mondrian Waterloo was one of the first buildings completed as part of the regeneration of the Green Square precinct. The project was designed to be responsive to the living environment and to set new standards for environmental design, balancing low levels of energy consumption with a high standard of personal comfort.

The complex consists of four slim-line bar form buildings ranging from 4–6 storeys, organised in an east-west orientation with a north-south link through the site at ground level. A series of finger courtyards run between the buildings to provide access to individual apartments.

The architecture is direct yet layered. Strong grids, double height spaces and two-storey apartments create the experience of space, light and air, while the buildings’ expression draws on abstract compositions of aluminium screens, precast panels and glazing.
Stanisic Associates Architects described the buildings as “a climactically responsive modern box, green as well as white”. The building heights minimise overshadowing of communal areas, and the north orientation of the apartments makes the best use of natural light. All living areas extend onto garden courtyards, generous balconies and sunlit roof terraces, and natural cross-ventilation has been incorporated throughout — with most apartments enjoying a dual aspect.

The central pool helps cool the air as it flows through the buildings, while the gardens act as a bio-filtration system to reduce stormwater impact. Water is also collected and stored locally to reduce the buildings’ environmental footprint.

A public park on the Powell Street frontage links the complex to the surrounding community and provides a green space for residents and visitors alike.

A Brief History of the Site

Two centuries of Waterloo, one address.

Hunter Street looking towards Powell Street in 1951 (Image Source: City of Sydney Archives)

Prior to European settlement, the area now known as Waterloo was the traditional home of the Cadigal/Gamaygal peoples, collectively known as the Eora. The land was largely sand dunes covered with Banksia scrub, with a plentiful supply of groundwater running through the area.

With European settlement, the abundant water saw Waterloo become an early industrial precinct – home to milling, wool-washing, fell-mongering and tanning. Two large bodies of water, the Great Waterloo Dam and the Little Waterloo Dam, were formed across what is now Waterloo and Zetland, with part of present-day Powell Street once a watercourse flowing into the Little Waterloo Dam.

The land on which Mondrian now stands formed part of the Mt Lachlan Estate, granted to John Thomas Campbell in 1825 and later held by the Cooper family well into the twentieth century. The area remained largely undeveloped until 1887, when the Waterloo-Botany area ceased to supply Sydney’s water, and the conversion of Sheas Creek into the Alexandria Canal in 1894 allowed the land to be drained, levelled and connected by a more substantial road network. From the early 1900s, the site supported a mix of small industries – a stone mason’s yard, an engineering and blacksmith workshop (parts of which still line the Powell Street entrance today), and a machinery manufacturer.

In 1920, the Chubb Company began establishing its security manufacturing factory on the site, gradually expanding through the inter-war years by acquiring neighbouring lots. The factory prospered for decades until Chubb vacated in 1998. The buildings stood empty until the development of the Mondrian Apartments and the adjacent Taylors College building, with Aras Lane retained as a landscaped area between the two properties.

The Owners Corporation

Collectively owned. Collectively run.

The Owners Corporation is the body made up of all the owners in the strata scheme.

It has the responsibility for:

maintaining and repairing the common property of the strata scheme
managing the finances of the strata scheme
taking out insurance for the strata scheme
keeping records and accounts for the strata scheme
administering the by–laws for the strata scheme.

Each lot owner is part of the Owners Corporation and has a right to participate in the corporation’s decision making. The Owners Corporation comes into existence immediately after a strata plan is registered with the Land and Property Management Authority NSW (formerly called the Department of Lands).

The Owners Corporation has a Strata Committee which can make many of the necessary decisions on its behalf. The Strata Committee can have no more than nine members. It has a chairperson, secretary and treasurer. An Owners Corporation may also employ a Strata Manager and Building Manager to carry out some or all of their functions.

Mondrian has been formally registered as Strata Plan 69259.

The Office of Fair Trading website contains a lot of useful information about living in a strata scheme: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

Strata Committee

Owners helping owners. Elected to represent.

Mondrian Waterloo has a Strata Committee that is elected to represent the Owners Corporation at the Annual General Meeting in the first few months of each new financial year.

Information on the functions of an Strata Committee can be found on the Office of Fair Trading website: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

The Strata Committee meets formally approximately every 8-12 weeks. These meetings are “management” meetings for decision making. Owners are welcome to attend, and in accordance with the Strata Act, may only speak with the consent of the meeting.

Between these formal meetings the Strata Committee make decisions necessary for the day to day running of Mondrian Waterloo and supervise the appointed Strata Manager and Building Manager.

A lot of the work done by the Strata Committee happens outside formal meetings. A number of subcommittees work to address specific areas of managing and improving the complex. This work can be time consuming and the Strata Committee welcomes the input of other owners and residents who are keen to assist them.

A list of current Strata Committee members and subcommittees can be found on the noticeboard near the visitor car park.

Strata Manager

Finances, records, applications - your first port of call.

The Strata Manager assists the Owners Corporation and the Executive Committee in dealing with their statutory obligations, which includes:

Maintaining the financial records and preparing accounts & tax returns
Issuing the quarterly levy notices & following up any unpaid levies
Preparing meeting agendas and minutes
Managing insurance claims
Signing contracts and issuing work orders
Issuing letters & notices to enforce the rules & by-laws
Processing all applications (eg. for keeping pets, doing works within apartments etc.)

You should contact the Strata Manager if you:

Wish to make changes to your particulars on the strata roll (such as contact phone number, mailing address, email)
Have any queries about the levies you are being charged
Have any queries in relation to the minutes of Executive Committee or General Meetings
Require information in relation to Mondrian’s insurance coverage
Wish to place a motion on the agenda for the next General Meeting of owners
Are lodging an application for owners corporation permission (pets, building works etc.). Please see the Living section for the full range of items requiring applications & permission.

Please note that any concerns you have in relation to the maintenance of the buildings, facilities & grounds, or the conduct of residents & their visitors, should in the first instance be addressed to the Building Manager, rather than the Strata Manager.

Contact Details

The Strata Collective
Level 9, 387 George Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Peter Domazetovski
info@thestratacollective.com.au
(all emails should reference SP 69259 Mondrian in the subject line)

02 9137 2320
www.thestratacollective.com.au

Building Manager

Onsite, hands-on, here to help.

The building manager has responsibility for the day to day running of Mondrian Waterloo. The duties of the building manager include organising the maintenance of the buildings and grounds as well as supervising the conduct of residents and visitors.

The building manager’s office is located in the car park near the Building 4 lift lobby. The building manager is generally onsite Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays) from 7.30am.

You should contact the building manager if you:

Notice any damage and wish to report it
Are proposing to move in or move out
Have household or furniture items for disposal
Have concerns about the conduct of other residents or their pets
Have problems with your security access fob
Wish to access visitor parking or use a bicycle cage
Need information about carrying out work in your apartment

Contact Details for Building Manager

Kevin Bacher
BM@MondrianWaterloo.com.au
0451 510 217

The building manager should only be contacted outside working hours in the event of emergencies or urgent matters that cannot be held over until the next working day. Some examples may include: malfunction of any lifts or roller doors, major plumbing or electrical failures, an accident or safety incident involving the common property.

Landlords & Agents

Working together to welcome new residents.

Approximately 50% of apartments in Mondrian Waterloo are leased by their owners and occupied by tenants. Tenancies change typically more often than owner occupiers.Tenants are welcomed as part of the Mondrian community, with the cooperation of property owners and their agents vital in ensuring that their tenants become valued residents.

Landlords and their Agents – Duties

We appreciate the assistance of landlords and agents in observing the following:

Ensuring that tenants have been given copies of the Mondrian By Laws and that they understand them.
Lodging details of leases with Mondrian’s Strata Manager to maintain an up to date record of all residents.
Advising any potential tenants with pets that approval may be given for one small pet only and that this approval must be obtained before moving in.
Providing the Building Manager with the date the tenants will be moving in, ensuring that all moves take place within approved hours and that any lift being used has protective curtains fitted.
Giving the Building Manager contact details for all tenants (name, email address, telephone no.)

Award-Winning

Four major awards for environmental architecture.

Natural Light & Air

North-facing apartments with cross-ventilation throughout.

Public Park Frontage

Powell Street park connects Mondrian to Waterloo.

Layered History

Two centuries of Waterloo history beneath us.

Energy Efficient

5.5-star NABERS rating for energy efficiency.

Water Wise

Rated 4 stars for water performance.

Dual-Aspect Living

Designed in a way that most apartments enjoy light from two sides.

Natural Light & Air

North-facing apartments with cross-ventilation throughout.

CONTACT US

Need Assistance?

For levies, insurance, meeting minutes or owner applications, get in touch with the Strata Manager. For day-to-day matters like maintenance, move-ins, security fobs or visitor parking, contact the Building Manager – onsite Monday to Friday from 7.30am.

Contact Building Manager