Nu Infinity Create a Home that Feels Both Inviting and Grounded

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a grounded penthouse design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Nu Infinity.

Turning every nook of one’s home into a relatable and personal space makes it unique to this client’s brief. Located in a prime spot overlooking Bondi Beach, it was imperative that all the important areas face outward and maximizes the view all day long – the TV hung from above, the sauna, the gym, the work desk, the living and dining areas; even the kitchen has unobstructed views. Nu Infinity’s design philosophies and this year’s design direction are aptly introduced but the most important part was the study and understand of our client with different lifestyle at a very unique location.

What was the client’s brief?

The brief was simple, yet it demanded thoughtful consideration. Our client entrusted us with the design of a penthouse perched above the iconic Iceberg’s Cafe at Bondi Beach, Sydney. A residence in such a prestigious location called for unobstructed views of the coastline. With wellness at the heart of his lifestyle, the brief centred on maximizing the layout to embrace Bondi’s sweeping horizon while seamlessly supporting his daily rituals.

What inspired the design of the project?

The clients themselves were an inspiring duo. One, an Asian-born Australian, the other from South Africa, both sharing a profound appreciation for solid wood. Surrounded by sweeping views of the ocean, we envisioned a design that embraced natural timber as its foundation. This interplay between the vastness of the sea and the warmth of wood brought a sense of intimacy, creating a home that feels both inviting and grounded.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Convincing the client of two key ideas became our greatest challenge.

The first was rethinking the master bedroom. While the client wished to maximize the panoramic views of Bondi Beach, we proposed relocating the bedroom to the rear. This allowed us to design a custom sauna at the front, one that opens directly to the ocean views through the spacious gym, offering a serene wellness experience. Our reasoning was simple: at night, the bedroom view fades into darkness, but by shifting the private spaces inward, the open plan living, dining, gym, sauna, and even the workspace could enjoy the breathtaking scenery throughout the day.

The second challenge was the television. We resisted the idea of a conventional TV wall, which would have disrupted the openness of the floor plan. At the same time, we knew a small screen would never do justice to the space. Our solution was to propose a retractable 120-inch screen—an ambitious idea that initially seemed unfeasible due to its weight. Fortunately, we sourced a customized, whisper-quiet retractable system from South Africa. When closed, the screen disappears seamlessly into the ceiling, leaving the horizon uninterrupted. This became one of the client’s favourite features, balancing technology with the purity of the view.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We crafted a home that flows seamlessly around our clients’ daily rituals, achieved through a thoughtful choreography of space planning. By reorienting the bedrooms toward the rear, we created a private sanctuary, while the front of the residence was left fully open to the sweeping views, yet adaptable, with sliding glass partitions providing separation when needed.

Designing a penthouse with a sauna and open living overlooking the iconic Bondi Beach is a rare opportunity, and this feature became a defining statement of the project. Most importantly, the design never asked our clients to adapt to their home but instead, the home was meticulously choreographed to adapt to their lifestyle.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

To be honest, winning the SBID Awards would be an accomplishment not just for us but a focal achievement for our team.

We have participated in multiple international and local awards and every time we win them, we bring back joy and motivation that drives our team to a new level. From one project to another, from one year after another, we unlock not just new projects but also unlock new strengths and talent.

Being part of the SBID Awards is like being part of a gathering among passionate creative minds that is not present to compete, but present to share, to reflect, to realise and for us, mainly to discover and grow. And that is why we have been submitting every year.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

For over 16 years, we have pioneered our design practice, working with clients from diverse backgrounds across the globe. To us, design has never been just about aesthetics, it is about curating experiences that resonate on a deeper, more human level.

Placing our work on the international stage allows us to measure ourselves not only against global standards, but also against our own potential for growth. To be recognised by the SBID Awards, whether as a winner or a finalist, would mark more than an accolade, it would affirm that our journey is on the right path. Most importantly, it would inspire our team to push boundaries with even greater passion, constantly striving toward new heights.

Questions answered by Alex Lee & Nick Fong, Founders of Nu Infinity.