Three narrow workers cottages in the eastern Sydney enclave of Woollahra are transformed into a spacious, three-level family residence. Behind their heritage facades, a new interior is loosely delineated into three sections or capsules.

Upon entry, capsule one houses the ground-level kitchen and dining areas with bedroom, ensuite and study upstairs. The next capsule presents a courtyard aside a pavilion of sliding glazed walls and expanded mesh operable screens that merge the indoors with outside. Beside this is a double-height, sun-lit void, and a staircase to access the main suite above. At the boundary is a two-car garage and below, a basement contains gym, steam room, cellar, family room and kitchenette.

The contemporary aesthetic is pared back and nothing is superfluous to the architect’s intention. There is natural materiality, stone, terrazzo, mosaic travertine, timber flooring with terracotta tiling in the basement. The colour palette is infinite shades of white, white painted internal and external bagged brick walls reflect the light and a perforated steel stair provides texture. There is visual connectivity within, and a passageway links spaces and people.

Including an expansive void, providing ample natural light, a courtyard connecting to landscape and myriad textural variety, this design is perfectly resolved and a singular home.

Completed 2021

AWARDS

Australian Interior Design Awards 2022

Shortlisted – Residential

Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2022

Shortlisted – Single Residential