The Albert Street residence transforms a traditional single storey Victorian terrace house into a unique multi-level contemporary home. Capitalizing on the site’s pre-existing conditions, the design not only retains and celebrates the existing heritage fabric and neighbourhood character; it also offers a contemporary interpretation to the sites surrounding heritage architecture.
Set on a compact inner suburban site, the natural fall of land within the property enabled a split level design proposal to be introduced, providing an additional upper level of accommodation.
In retaining the original section of residence to the street frontage, the two levels of accommodation nestle in behind the original façade. The threshold between the old and new demarcates the a point of choice when moving through the house.
The living, kitchen and dining areas are accommodated at the lower ground floor level, with the upper level accommodating an additional bedroom and ensuite. By recessing the upper level additions back from the new north facing façade to the rear of the dwelling, a double height volume is established, along with a unique spatial opportunity, enabling an abundance of natural light and volume to be drawn back into the home over its various levels.
The north facing courtyard now extends from the lower living space to its rear boundary, providing a fully engaged connection between the internal and external spaces of the home. A cohesive connection not previously engaged. The humble scale of the courtyard is now made deceptively more generous by this new relationship established with the internal living zone.
The proposal is typically contained to the rear of the property; and from a built form perspective reflects a finely crafted contemporary design solution which compliments and celebrates the integrity of the original home.
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