The centre piece of this extended and remodelled house are the hallway stairs and kitchen-dining-living rooms. The new accommodation extending under a roofscape conceived as a series of folding planes, accessed from the main hallway with its hung staircase that pauses mid flight. Throughout the house are new linked social areas combined with bright areas of colour.

This contemporary family house reflects the requirements of its owners and the context of a suburban city dwelling, creating a distinctive interpretation of the original vernacular, and enhancing the property’s character with it’s clean-cut and light filled aesthetic.

The internal layout was re-configured to improve spatial relationships on both ground and first floors and to provide flexible accommodation that is able to respond to the changing aspirations and requirements of a long term family home.

High quality fixtures and fittings have been sourced including a bespoke kitchen handcrafted to the architect’s design, Italian light fittings throughout and a luxurious hydrotherapy bath. Attention to detail is one of the practice hallmarks with bespoke joinery, fittings, and colour schemes to articulate the internal spaces and add character and interest.

The incorporation of a number of environmental strategies was a high priority for the clients and so the building fabric has been upgraded to improve thermal performance, including solar panels, a fully integrated rain water harvesting system, low heat loss windows & doors with noise reducing glazing. Further acoustically absorbent elements have been integrated including perforated plasterboard light shafts and timber panelling within ceilings to help reduce unwanted noise when windows are open.

The property is now an elegant, light and spacious contemporary family home with improved integration of external spaces, and a building which fulfills several diverse functions (including space for a grand piano) yet retains a cohesiveness achieved through the application of a simple palette of materials and signature design elements.

Photographs copyright © Emma Harper Photography http://www.emmaharperphotography.com