Architecture

An Inspired Reworking Of An Intimate Marrickville House

Until recently, the spaces within this semi-detached Marrickville, Sydney house were dark and disjointed, but its cottage facade was worth preserving.

Studio Weave resolved these issues and more by designing an inspired two-storey addition that seamlessly connects to the outdoors.

Concrete-look Barestone panels on the ground floor meet timber cladding above, creating a contrasting appearance reminiscent of Neeson Murcutt + Neille’s Woolwich House in a dense inner-city Sydney context. 

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

A set of practical requirements drove the alterations and additions of this Marrickville, Sydney house: to respect its cottage facade; create a connection to the backyard; and introduce natural light. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Opening as much of the home to the backyard as possible was both the priority and greatest challenge of the project. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Studio Weave designed a seamless connection to the outdoors, without the need for a visually disruptive post supporting the first floor. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Brass features on the splashback, kitchen tapware and bathroom fittings.  Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

The addition replaces a previous lean-to with a new kitchen, living, and dining area on the ground floor; with a study, main bedroom and en suite above. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

All timber throughout the renovation is recyled. – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

The beautifully crafted interior staricase. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

The living room bench seat. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Timber joinery doubles as seating in the living room. – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

On the upper storey, an angled roof on timber beams is combined with high level glazing to maximise the northern sun. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Views to the neighbours are restricted through the use of solid timber casement windows and screens. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

The main bedroom. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

View to the main en suite. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

The en suite. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Pink terrazzo tile and timber vanity elements in the bathroom. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Concrete-look Barestone panels on the ground floor meet timber cladding above, creating a contrasting appearance reminiscent of Neeson Murcutt + Neille’s Woolwich House. Photography – Tom Ferguson. Styling – Holly Irvine Studio

Writer
Amelia Barnes
13th of February 2023

A  set of practical requirements drove the alterations and additions of this Marrickville, Sydney house: respect its cottage facade; create a connection to the backyard; and introduce natural light.

Aesthetically, Studio Weave Architects were interested in exploring the idea of Neeson Murcutt + Neille’s Woolwich House (circa 2010) with its contrasting timber and concrete cladding across two storeys. Marrickville Laneway House adopts a similar appearance featuring recycled timber and Barestone panels (compressed fibre cement), albeit on a smaller scale appropriate for its dense inner-city context.

The transformed home retains its corridor and three front rooms, one of which was converted into the main bathroom and laundry. ‘There was value in keeping these front rooms as they were well built with solid brick construction, lovely existing timber floorboards (just] in need of a sand/polish) and ornate plaster ceilings,’ says architect and Studio Weave director Davin Turner. ‘Furthermore, it was important to the client and architect to maintain the streetscape.’

An addition replaces a previous lean-to with a new kitchen, living, and dining area on the ground floor; with a study, main bedroom and en suite above.

Opening as much of the home to the backyard as possible was both the priority and greatest challenge of the project. Studio Weave designed a seamless connection without the need for a visually disruptive post supporting the first floor. 

‘From a structural perspective as well as a detailing perspective, this was tricky to achieve. A bifold door coming to meet a face sliding door was particularly challenging,’ says Davin. 

‘The structure involved in this was considerable (it would have been much easier and cheaper to place a post to support the first floor), however, spatially, this adds a lot to the kitchen and dining area. It really brings in the backyard and “borrows the space” to create a feeling of spaciousness in an otherwise compact home.’

Recycled timber continues in the interior joinery, elevated by brass fittings and pink terrazzo in the bathroom.

On the upper storey, an angled roof on timber beams is combined with high level glazing to maximise the northern sun. Views to the neighbours are restricted through the use of solid timber casement windows and screens. 

Studio Weave have successfully created an intimate and comfortable home on an 183 square metre block that respects its neighbourhood. 

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