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When you look inside this sun-drenched pad surrounded by greenery, it’s hard to imagine the tired, dark dwelling that stood before it.
Due to its north-facing frontage, the original rear living area and study were starved of natural light, and views of the back garden were minimal. But the previous house wasn’t completely demolished.
Instead, Zen Architects restored the single-fronted white Victorian facade to its former glory — decorative iron lacework, picket fence and all.
Behind this charming heritage facade, a cleverly crafted modern extension was designed to unfold onto the back garden.
‘The clients loved their existing garden and wanted the home to feel surrounded by it,’ design director Luke Rhodes says.
Keeping with the design of the original timber cottage, the new extension also incorporates timber, with a focus on elevating and improving the presence of natural sunlight, ventilation, colour and connection to nature.
Part of this process meant opening up the views and access to the rear garden, including adding a built-in window seat, cantilevered over the backyard.
Luke says the clients — a young family — agonised over whether to keep the house single storey or build upwards, as they were wary of reducing the size of the garden. So, they devised an alternate solution, by way of a mezzanine study.
At the top of a perforated white spiral staircase, the study is complete with one of the best views in the house, and perhaps the project’s most clever inclusion: a lush rooftop garden that offers another leafy green view in an unexpected place.
Lifting the roof of the extension also created a central clerestory, allowing northern light to flood throughout the living spaces.
‘The dramatic volume of the extension gives the entire house a lift,’ Luke adds. ‘We wanted to create an easygoing home that encourages family members to connect with each other, the neighbourhood and their garden.’
Each room has been carefully updated, ensuring a delightful synergy between the old and the new. Timber accents pay homage to the home’s roots, while the modernity of the new interiors facilitate the lifestyle of a contemporary, growing family with an ‘adventurous spirit’.
