Wangal people of the Eora Nation
New South Wales
House in Lilyfield is an extension of a weatherboard cottage arising from the quirks of its streetscape context and the clients love of gardens.
A suspended timber clad addition with a cantilevered bay window sits adjacent to the cottage, screened by a trio of birch trees lending views, shade and privacy.
The garden experience begins at the street and unfolds throughout the home.
A hallway leading to the bedrooms scoops out the roof volume to draw in daylight before transitioning to the new sleeping and work spaces. Sited a few steps down, the addition responds to the sloping site and draws the outside in through generous apertures. A window seat, floating desk and deep sills are spaces to contemplate and enjoy the gardens.
Materially, the natural materials allow the house to develop a patina as time passes.
By only building what was needed the cottage vernacular is preserved and celebrated.
Commendation for Residential – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
House in Lilyfield demonstrates how a relatively small architectural insertion into an existing dwelling can have positive effects across the entire house. Whilst only two new rooms are created in a modest footprint, they provide a variety of different spatial experiences, new connections to gardens and the street, and alleviate the growing pressure of a young family with parents that work from home.
Externally, the addition is modern in form, conventional in materials, and proportionately appropriate to the context. It shows a delightful approach to managing the updates of ageing weatherboard cottages that is novel and respectful.
The design has given our family an improvement in both quantity, and quality of spaces. The bedroom wing makes the home feel bigger than it is. The rooms are not only functional but also pleasant to be in, everything feels considered. Gone are the days where every room had to have dual purpose the dining table was both work space and meals, and the living room was a cluttered play zone. I now love coming home through our beautiful garden and seeing the kids play in the spaces inside. It very much feels like a home we can all enjoy.