This project gave new life to a mid-century house and provided the family and their friends with a place to relax and enjoy a holiday lifestyle. This was achieved by establishing new spaces that integrated with fresh landscaping and a rejuvenated pool.
The aim of the project was to preserve the best of the original features of the house and build upon those with a fresh take on their style, extending and opening up the home for modern living. The original layout had service areas at the rear of the property disconnecting living from the rear garden and pool. The new design sought to maximise the connection to the landscape and pool, a focal point around which to develop a resort atmosphere. The irregular shape of the site and triangular rear garden presented a challenge, with the idea being to maintain a feeling of generous space and privacy, providing an oasis for family living. The design sought to reference the original period of the house whilst at the same time bringing new ideas and materials to the home with a sense of playfulness and glamour.
The brief for this design was to establish a long term home for a family returning to Australia after ten years living abroad.
The aim was to develop a new modern dwelling that provides a warm, welcoming environment and sits comfortably in the streetscape. Dickson Street features a lot of wide gabled period homes and Californian bungalows. Our design kept the front façade of the house fairly understated, referencing the traditional wide gable roof forms. Bricks were recycled from the demolition to add texture and colour, along with a relatively warm palette of new materials. These starting points then informed the rest of the dwelling towards the rear, where large skylights and double height spaces were used to provide privacy from the neighbouring properties as well as abundant natural light.
A consistency of materials throughout the home are combined with the utmost attention to detail to provide our clients with a home that is “even better than we ever imagined our house could be”.
Corbel House is a family home designed for our lovely client - a family of five. They spotted their dream block and jumped on the opportunity to gain a deep waterfront position.
With a love of design and architecture - in particular modernist style, our client wanted a home to meld with its natural surroundings and a design to suit as the three children (older teens) grew into young adults.
The original site, while magical, had a number of challenges we had to overcome - building on a narrow strip of land with a steep slope, difficult access for building, council height considerations and a desire to minimise excavation and maintain the natural local wildlife corridor.
To meet these, we drew inspiration from the past - the mediaeval corbel — a stepped architectural element projecting from walls to support weight. The result is a fully electric, three-level contemporary home with a 75 sqm footprint that expands to a generous 245 sqm of living space.
Utilising the corbel enabled a minimal footprint, preserving the site's natural beauty and creating a spacious, light filled home that enjoys expansive views with a feeling of being embedded within the natural environment.
Bespoke elements abound - internally, a curved steel staircase, concrete kitchen island, joinery with brass detailing and internal garden offer everyday delight. While its unique exterior featuring laser-cut formwork for the concrete, along with a sandstone brick wall, lintels and cobblestones pays homage to the corbel’s historical roots.
We wanted to create a home that not only solved the site's challenges but also told a story through its architecture. Corbel House demonstrates how historical architectural elements can be reimagined to create thoroughly modern, captivating living spaces that are built to last.
Our client purchased a vacant lot on Sydney’s northern beaches to build a beach house for their retirement and for their extended family to enjoy.
The home is entered from the higher western side via a raised boardwalk that steps down suspended above the native grasses. The home consists of a three storey primary structure plus a smaller two storey pavilion, linked with a glazed bridge. The main section stretches the width of the site, taking maximum advantage of the ocean views. Living is located on the central level and opens on to a cantilevered deck that hangs in the tree tops and provides the communal focus. On the top level is the main bedroom and a piano gallery, linked to the main living level by an inviting stair. On the garden level are guest bedrooms, allowing the owners to generally live contained on the upper two storeys when the extended family is not “beached” at the house.
The main house pavilion is a steel column structure set on a regular grid defining a service zone and clear living spaces. Vertically the façade is broken by setting lines off grid and playing with the established framing module. The deck is suspended from steel and timber cruciform flitch beams that are set at a height to also form the internal balustrading.
How to fulfil the brief for a light and airy home on a south facing block was the challenge that lead us to develop this design for a rear addition to a suburban bungalow on Sydney’s north shore. Our answer was to design a twisted roof window that transforms from a near flat skylight through a progression of steel angles to end as a vertical window. These angles provide a sculptural form that transform shadow and light into the main living spaces as the days progresses. Oregon timber ceiling lining highlights the spatial quality of the skylights whilst also warming and softening the reflected light to the concrete floor surface below. Elsewhere in the existing part of the house new skylights were inserted with deep reveals that continue the theme of light and shadow. Externally the roof window created an asymmetric form that was wrapped in black metal and timber cladding in contrast to the lightness of the interior.
Situated in Sydney’s northern beaches this site came with a 45 degree slope, combined with panoramic beach views that led us to develop the design of this “rooftop house”. A three storey solid base cut in to the hillside houses all the bedrooms and ancillary accommodation. This allowed us to form a rooftop with about 350sq.m. of level terrace bridging back to meet the hillside. This rooftop is then designed almost like a separate single storey dwelling with lightweight steel framed pavilions loosely arranged along with outdoor terraces and the swimming pool. The wide eaves and floor finishes emphasis the connection of the internal spaces to the roof terrace around them. The kitchen and living room feature as two “islands” within the terrace, with the dining room being an enclosable negative space between them. Further back on the site the bushland and large trees are left in-tact with natural landscaping winding up to a series of architectural events in the landscape.
This weatherboard cottage, typical of the area, had a first floor added in the 80’s and a lean-to structure housing the main living areas towards the rear. The limited site area meant that we had to work with the existing footprint as much as possible. The project therefore consisted on an extensive internal reconfiguration and a replacement of the existing lean-to with a dynamic new addition. The relocation of the stairs brought several new spaces to life with a limited side addition, a fourth bedroom, a study in between floor levels and a new laundry. The family room at first floor was also much improved, with the north east corner becoming usable space from where to enjoy harbour views and the morning sun. At ground level a new north east facing courtyard brought light into what was a very dark corridor, the new bathroom and kitchen.
Towards the rear, the new ‘’lean-to” is a playful re-interpretation of the traditional form. Part of the roof follows convention sloping down from front to back, whilst the other main section of roof slopes up from front to rear, increasing the ceiling height at the rear to 3.6m. Joining these two main roof planes is a third triangular transitional plane. This transitional plane is a large skylight orientated to draw in natural light from the north. The timber ceiling is clad with a routed solid timber that has the profile of custom orb metal roof sheeting. This was chosen as a reference to the custom orb material traditionally used on most Aussie rear lean-tos.
The goal of this project was to transform an 80’s house which was, in our clients' words, “an amalgam of several people’s ideas over many decades” into a modern light filled family home, with an additional self-contained granny flat. The budget was limited and therefore the existing footprint of the house was largely retained.
At ground floor the two front bedrooms were retained, whilst towards the rear, existing living areas were transformed into a combined light-filled living, dining and kitchen opening to the existing mature garden and pool. The first floor layout was largely reconfigured to provide an additional master ensuite and walk-in robe. Two dormer windows created additional floor space with limited modifications to the existing roof outline and at the same time integrate new and old within the front façade. The new self-contained granny flat was seamlessly incorporated over the existing garage providing additional accommodation for visiting family members.
This freestanding home sits on a relatively small block within a conservation area. The challenge was to integrate a modern addition with an existing Californian bungalow on an exposed corner site. The resulting design combines a folded zinc roof with brick, steel, timber and glass to transition from and complement the existing house.
Previously the home had virtually no usable outdoor space so a split level design was used to maximise the apparent space and connect the main living area with a newly created garden and raised deck.
With sustainability at the core of this design, Patterson is a timeless and smart family home that is cool in summer, warm in winter and cosy in-between. The house produces more energy than it consumes and saves resources, water and electricity. Large sliding doors within the front and rear façade create a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor areas and evoke a relaxed beach vibe commensurate with its surroundings in Bondi Beach. Key elements such as the use of off form concrete, timber cladding and the sculptural stairs were carefully considered to uplift the overall design and create focus points as well as a warm palette within interiors and exteriors.
Designing a family home to embrace resort style living was the aim of this project. The family with adult children, a plan for early retirement and regular overseas visitors desired a home with multiple living areas, work spaces, places to entertain and trimmings to toast the good life.
The original three-level house had been modified several times which resulted in inherent problems in terms of room layout, centralised circular staircase, circulation, damp, obscured views and low ceiling heights.
A new build was in order.
The property, located on the waterfront of Sailors Bay, was designed with exterior terraces on all four levels - spots to enjoy the tranquillity and absorb the views.
Entry at street level is understated - only a hint of what's nestled into the hillside below. Solid concrete with a floating roof features slats to filter and soften the light. These slats are used throughout the design - in particular, the raised roof areas in the living room to introduce north east morning light, give a sense of height and break down the scale of spaces.
North West facing at rear, the terraces continue in the garden providing variety of outdoor spaces.
The home encompasses five bedrooms, two studies, media room, gym, wine cellar, sauna, games room, large wet edge pool, cabana and a lift. Powered by solar.
You'd never want to leave.
This project involved substantial remodelling and addition to a federation home in a conservation area along with fresh interiors and furniture.
The original front part of the house was retained and restored. This had to be achieved whilst at the same time excavating below the existing structure to provide a new double garage at street level. A generous two storey addition was then added to the rear.
The rear façade combines glass with hardwood timber screens to control privacy and shading. This opens on to a new level rear garden and pool.
The interiors and joinery were designed and selected to add warmth and colour to the structure and unify the new and original elements of the dwelling.
We are often told that our designs are distinctive - CDC House in Sydney’s Inner West plays to this commentary well. Bold, brave and unique. This home, designed for a young family, transformed an early 1980s brick house that was dark, disconnected and claustrophobic, into a spacious and light-filled home for the family to thrive.
The original house had strong bones - so we utilised the double-brick structure as the base and designed it skyward. For this project, Council Design Controls (CDC) were our friend and we tapped into our love of mathematics to create the final shape of the roof - geometry abounds. As does height and light. To construct the roof, the team had to go section, by section aligning the ribs - the challenge was met with patience and time.
The architecture aims to create a sense of space on a tight inner-city site, using a warehouse-style construction. We were able to achieve ceiling heights from three to just over six metres, this combined with the use of skylights, voids and unique angles invites the light into play - a home where a family can grow through the ages.
A mixed use development situated on a vibrant section of King Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown. Comprising of 13 apartments and 3 commercial units on a site of just 610sq.m. this urban regeneration project replaced an existing petrol station on the site.
As a corner building in a conservation area the design draws on the inter-war tradition of corner buildings, using horizontally banded brickwork and curved facades to emphasis the wrapping of the site boundaries and transition from main thoroughfare to a pedestrianized side street. Three penthouse apartments are set back from the main building line, enjoying roof terraces with district views.
This house was originally built in the 1980s, one of a row of five houses built at the same time. The clients' main aim was to extend the house in order to add an extra bedroom for their growing family and a second living area. However, the house had other issues that affected its livability, in particular a tight winding stair, lack of natural light, unwelcoming garden and poor acoustics.
For some reason the house itself had been built further back than the other four in the row so unusually our design extended the house forward to the street. The block had a relatively generous 2.5m wide side passage on the northern side. Our design strategy combined these two elements, extending the house forward, towards the street creating a new front entry and also extending to the side creating a double height light well containing the new stair. We also broke the side addition into two elements which allowed us to form a courtyard on the northern side of the house with a glazed wall to fill the centre of the house with natural light and ventilation. The detailing and material selections referenced mid-century in response to our clients' passion for this style.
This small but fun project involved the remodelling of the rear of a simple post-war suburban bungalow. The rear lean-to structures were demolished to allow us to create a new open plan living dining room and connection to the rear garden with a suspended deck. The new garden design incorporates a plunge pool, karate studio and new deck, referencing our client’s love of traditional Japanese culture.
Blandford is a heritage listed post-war house due to it being an unusual example of Art Deco styling. The design objective was to restore three separate flats back into a single dwelling, substantially recovering the character as built in 1948, whilst also providing a contemporary addition that is complimentary to the original style.
To a large extent the front section of the house remained unaltered by the design. Rooms were reconnected through the re-opening of original doorways and refurbished rather than significantly altered. In doing this room uses were re-defined for current living patterns.
A double height addition was then added to the rear. This new addition houses the main living spaces and connects to the three previously disparate areas of the house; the period featured upstairs, the rear garden, and the less featured basement accommodation, so recovering and enhancing the original home.
This development in Sydney’s inner west involved the sub division of an existing property and construction of three new dwellings in a conservation area.
Two of the dwellings face on to Nelson Street, a wide tree-lined residential street. One of these houses retains the existing single storey frontage of the original house with a large two storey addition behind whilst the other is a new modern two storey dwelling referencing the freestanding terrace typology common to the area. To the rear of the site the garages and a new freestanding dwelling are situated on the rear laneway.
Given the different context of the three dwelling each was tailor designed and responded individually to its own context. The rear dwelling embraces a more industrial aesthetic with an austere facade to the laneway address. Facing in to the development the house breaks down in to a more skeletal structure that uses adjustable panels to control sun, light and privacy.
At the outset of this project the aim was to minimise removal of waste from the site and re-use demolition material in the new design. The cladding incorporates waste timbers and flooring whilst the new floor uses all the old bricks that made up the back of the old house. Other stone, timber and bricks were used through the landscaping. The upper floor of the rear façade features a series of windows and openable shutters that are strategically positioned to allow light and views from the bedroom whilst maintaining privacy.
The restoration of this Federation Queen Anne-style house in Randwick also provided a rear addition with clean minimal spaces. The extension is built directly off the new glass fronted pool while a double height “birdcage” hovers over the outdoor entertaining space and provides shade and privacy to the new north facing kitchen and family room.
This project involved substantial remodelling and addition to a federation home in a conservation area along with fresh interiors and furniture.
The original front part of the house was retained and restored. This had to be achieved whilst at the same time excavating below the existing structure to provide a new single garage at street level.
To create a smooth transition between old and new, the addition was designed as two separate volumes with cathedral ceilings arranged perpendicular to the street. This minimised the height of the wall visible from the street. The first volume was finished in brick to match those of the existing dwelling and the second volume in white to match the finish of the rear façade. The stair in the middle of the house designed with a two storey vertical window marks the transition between volumes.
This small workers cottage in a Balmain laneway sits on just 170sq.m. of land. As the project is in a conservation area the front section of the cottage was retained stepping down to a new two storey addition to the rear.
In order to maximize the sense of space for the new addition and maintain neighbors’ privacy the design was conceived as a solid upper floor sitting on a ground floor “table” structure. The frame for this table stretches out towards the boundaries defining a large area of the site. The internal and external spaces are separated only by glazing positioned independently of the columns. Whilst unassuming from the street the rear addition combines the traditional forms and materials with modern detailing to complement the heritage frontage.
