A dilapidated Federation house opposite Mosman Oval, previously divided into three flats. The house was restored in the front section, housing a sitting room and two bedrooms and the rear section demolished. A new large open plan contemporary kitchen/living room was built to the rear of the house, with a master suite above the new rear addition.
The ceilings in the living room were high enough to allow generous highlight windows, bringing light into all sides of the room. A simple palate of polished concrete floors, oak veneer joinery, corten steel fireplace and clean white walls sits well within the large living room spaces. The Master suite above the living are also has generous high ceilings and large rooms, with abundant natural light.
What was the brief?
To renovate an old federation house that had been neglected over the years and divided into 3 flats. All period detail had been removed, so a contemporary solution was required by the clients. Their quantitative brief was for a 3 bedroom home, all with their own bathroom and dressing room facilities, a formal sitting/television room, and a large open plan Living Room, Dining area and Kitchen opening onto the rear yard with covered and uncovered outdoor spaces.
What were the key challenges?
Getting a DA through Mosman Council!
What were the solutions?
The existing front section of the house was retained and housed two bedrooms and a Sitting Room. The rear section comprised of a two-levelled structure, on the ground floor a large Living, Dining, Kitchen area oriented to the North and West, with clever allocation of the support spaces of a large pantry, laundry and study to the pantry, on the south side of the ground floor. The Upper level we created a Master Suite, the bedroom with large window openings, shaded by electronically operated external louvres to respond to the western sun and bedroom light requirements. An ensuite and large walk in robe spaces.
Key products used:
Concrete and Timber - the new rear Living Kitchen area on the ground floor has polished concrete floors and a site poured concrete kitchen bench. The kitchen joinery features a strong statement of timber panelling, and the old section of the house and the new upper level have engineered oak timber floors.
