Park Life

The renovation of this degraded two-storey building in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs was inspired by the close proximity to Centennial Park and the desire to create a relaxed light-filled home with easy access to a garden for the clients young children.

One of the few remaining features of the original Queen Anna style house was a bell cast apron around the front verandah and this became the starting point for the design of the renovation. The ‘kick’ of the verandah was reinterpreted in zinc at the first floor extension and in the north-facing highlight windows. New parts of the building respect and contrast with the original house which was extensively restored.

At the entry a staircase winds up towards a circular skylight in the existing roof connecting living spaces at the ground floor to bedrooms and a main suite above. The new pool in the rear garden sits in front of a new garage and home office accessed from the rear lane.

Collaborators

• Builder: Estalis Construction
• Landscape: Dangar Barin Smith
• Structural Engineer: Blueprint Structural Engineers
• Photography: Prue Ruscoe
• Styling: Olga Lewis