Pirie Street Extension | Preston Lane Architects

Pirie Street Extension reclines back onto a hill in New Town and gazes at kunanyi, providing an outward focus to what was an internalised but charming 1910 cottage. Preston Lane was engaged to design an extension that would soak in the sun, capture the mountain and feel immersed in the garden. Play with volume increases the perceived size of the space whilst maintaining a modest footprint. The form is clipped and white, a crisp contrast to the soft textural garden in which it sits. Weatherboards are a continuation of the existing house, and are complementary yet unmistakably modern with mitred corners. A thin aluminium awning creates a fine, sharp eyelid. The interior palette is deliberately restrained as a blank canvas for paintings.

The project focused on clean lines and alignment. Pirie St extension isn’t a home of one singular moment/gesture, but rather an integrated home filled with many moments.