Wann and Gadi clans of the Eora nation
New South Wales
Denj Lane challenges the idea that laneways are merely back-of-house service spaces, reimagining them as active, welcoming parts of everyday neighbourhood life. Located in Sydney’s Inner West, the project introduces a carefully planned studio above a garage, bringing light, colour and greenery to a laneway often treated as out of sight and out of mind.Â
Curved windows, playful colour and integrated planter boxes create moments of delight while encouraging passive surveillance, helping the laneway feel safer and more connected to life. Designed for a young family, the flexible studio supports working from home, guests and future independent living, while maintaining a strong relationship to the main house and garden. Inside, thoughtful planning and built-in furniture make the most of the space, creating calm interiors.Â
Denj Lane demonstrates how small, well-considered architectural interventions can unlock the hidden potential of laneways, turning overlooked spaces into valuable extensions of home and neighbourhood.
The studio addition has really changed how we use our home and how we experience the laneway behind it. We wanted something that would make our home feel welcoming from the back lane just as much as the front. What was once an overlooked space is now full of light, greenery and activity. The studio gives us flexibility for working from home, entertaining and having guests stay all while still feeling connected to the main house and garden. We love that it adds something positive to the neighbourhood too. It just works beautifully for the way we live.
Ben Peake, Design Architect
Shaun Carter, Design Architect
Samantha Kirby, Project Architect
Tai Lien, Graduate of Architecture
Acoustic Consulting Engineers, Acoustic Consultant
RGM Property Surveyors, Building Surveyor
Stellen Civil Engineering, Hydraulic Consultant
Rebal Engineering, Structural Engineer
Transport and Traffic Planning Associates, Traffic Consultant
Melissa Wilson Landscape Architects, Landscape Consultant
Damian O’Toole Town Planning pty ltd, BASIX Consultant
Naturally Trees, Arborist
Planning Ingenuity, Town Planner