Gadigal People of the Eora Nation
New South Wales
Helen’s Place explores how rituals of joy can bring peace to inner city homes; A moment of sunlight in the garden, a view of the sky from each room, feeling the garden within the house. Nestled between eight neighbours, a bustling cafe and a heavily trafficked street, creating these rituals of tranquility were integral to the comfort of this Victorian terrace. By reusing the existing materials and integrating handcrafted pieces into the home, materiality acts as a metaphorical handshake between rituals of the past and rituals of the future. The salvaged sandstone is repurposed as a stair between the old house and the new, the terrazzo benchtop, the heart of this contemporary home, is a slowly handmade object. Helen’s Place is studded with material reminders and joyful rituals that participate in the past, present and future of this home.
We are still adjusting to how vastly our home has transformed our lives. From opening the front door and seeing light bounce around the hallway, sitting on the salvaged sandstone step or sky watching from the lounge, it’s hard to believe how tranquil a living space can be in the heart of the city. This relaxing space is transformative to our wellbeing the lines, materials (new & repurposed) and light all work together to create a lovely flow of space. Both beautiful and functional, this house is a joy to be in.