A renovation of Sydney's most iconic Gothic heritage home “The Hermitage" perfectly reflects the lifestyle of it’s owner, yet embraces it’s history, materiality and preserves the original spirit of the home. The home is a very personal thing; it should be a reflection of how you like to live.
What was once a characterless, commercial-style home is transformed into an inviting live-work space. An additional third storey for a sunroom and rooftop terrace was added to take advantage of the stunning views of Sydney Harbour Bridge. The existing two levels were completely emptied leaving bare the architectural bones. The low ceilings created much of the challenge. The spaces lacked character, the spaces were dark. New openings were created to bring much needed natural light into the darker spaces. The commercial character of the home was replaced by the more human by introducing the handmade, the textural and the natural, creating that much needed domestic feel.
An early 20th-century house is transformed into an edgy and modern family home with beautiful artisanal finishes. The tactile nature of the home was brought about with the extensive use of reclaimed wood, natural clay plastered walls and handcrafted tiles. Materials were chosen for their ability to patina over time.
A complete new rebuild from the ground up, this homes nettles perfectly into its site overlooking the tranquil setting of Parsley Bay, Vaucluse. No detail was spared. Light, views, grand proportions, materiality and spirit of place come together to celebrate Sydney's beautiful harbour while reflecting the lifestyle of it's owners.
New dwelling currently under construction in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
A complete overhaul of an existing four level dwelling on Sydney’s waterfront. Proposed modulating balconies replaced the narrow and straight existing balconies - constructed of part masonry and part blackened steel - shoring up the balustrades replacing the existing and visually unsympathetic frameless glass. Increased privacy and a more muscular yet elegantly curvaceous facade was the result. New steel and glass doors were proposed for the harbour front elevation, replacing the existing frameless glass bifold doors creating powerful vignettes and framing views. An entirely new internal layout was also proposed to provide a more contemporary mode of living for a family of five.
What began as an interior with limited sight-lines and a lack of natural light, is now filled with light, texture and a warm neutral palette. Living here overlooking the harbour lends itself to interiors which are calm and at once timeless. The desire for an uncomplicated, relaxed and paired pack lifestyle was the brief. The interior needed to open up to the exterior and connect with the surrounding landscape. A sense of openness and space was achieved by removing walls and increasing the size of glazing. Floors are replaced with beautiful French Oak and Travertine stone. Added to the material palette is terracotta, glazed handmade tiles and American Oak, silver travertine and limestone. Complementing these materials with further texture, walls and ceilings were finished with a combination of paint and sand with windows framed by natural linen drapery.
COMING SOON
A Playful interior belies the formality of the heritage street front.
