A challenging renovation to a 1930’s style inner city suburban double brick and tile single storey residence, the main determinants of this renovation focused on extending the ‘language’ of the existing dwelling, grappling with issues of circulation caused by alterations to the existing spatial layout of the house whilst capitalising of spectacular views from the houses proximity to a nearby harbour.

 

A second storey is proposed for the house, with a multi- function room, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and a spacious master bedroom suite with a walk in robe and large private ensuite.

 

The language adopted for the external building facades sees the ironed brickwork walls retained as ‘historical ruins’ and forming very much part of the sites history.  

 

With the existing roof scraped away, the remaining walls are preserved and the ‘ruinous’ character of the existing brickwork is reinforced with stepping brickwork and openings in stack bond pattern; at once harmonising and differentiating between ‘old’ and ‘new’. 

 

The scale of the new brick openings contrasts with the existing window openings, suggesting that this is perhaps a fragment of a larger building, giving an heroic scale to a modest dwelling.

 

The form of the building is deliberately modern and restrained in appearance so as not to detract from the heritage nature of the area in which the new dwelling stands.

 

Hence, the memory of a past landscape informs and plays a key role as a participant in the future of this residence, thus firmly grounding it in its context.