Commercial Rd

The property was a tiny workman’s cottage typical to Arch Hill and due to its original intent was comprised of small and pokey rooms, with little light and no connection to the outdoors. All aspects of the house which our client wanted to address, whilst adhering to the strict heritage values of the suburb and acknowledging the working history of the area.
In particular our client wanted the house to function better as a home for himself and his teenage daughter, who is in residence part-time, and to work well when he was home alone. He also wanted a home that reflected his personality and made the most of the elevated position, looking southeast across to the Kingsland ridge.
The original house was rejigged to accommodate the private spaces, two bedrooms and a third bedroom/flexi room, an ensuite to the main bedroom and house bathroom. The addition then steps down to house the public spaces, kitchen/living/dining and outdoor living spaces, including a courtyard with outdoor fire and an outdoor covered room, which in turn steps down again to the backyard.
The addition is a simple rectangular form with a hipped roof, echoing the original house, however with the two diagonally opposing corners cut out to create the central courtyard, bringing in much needed light and opening the back of the house to the view. High-level apex windows complete the scheme.
The interior spaces of the original cottage have been reworked taking cues from the heritage detailing of that period, utilising a rich colour palette of charcoals and greens, evoking a sense of calm luxury. The bathrooms feature T and G paneling and woven tile patterns.
The addition is open-plan featuring timber cabinetry, built-in daybed with associated shelving and a dramatic curved kitchen island in warm terracotta tiles, reminiscent of bricks that were produced in the area. The large window and door openings ensure the space feels light and airy, with the black aluminium joinery, dark-stained ceilings and ground concrete floors evoking the industrial vibe of the original neighbourhood.