Hope Street House

A modest, single-level period cottage is left seemingly untouched, and so the history and the rhythm of the street façades are respected, but an unapologetically modern wing is added behind. While the proportions are sympathetic, the contrast couldn’t be stronger – the old house has crisp, white weatherboards with pitched iron roof and white picket fence, and the new area is made up of flat-roofed, rectilinear shapes in charcoal plywood.

From the rear of the house, it becomes apparent that the juxtaposition of materials is a theme carried through the new building. The exterior is made up of dark sheet cladding, white solid plaster and timber-battened screens that break down the solid forms. Black aluminium joinery has sliding elements of timber, and the mostly dark interior is contrasted with sharp pops of colour in the fittings and furniture.

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The modern addition behind the white-picketed original building.

Image: Derek Swalwell

The unusually generous site afforded a large addition. The smaller rooms of the original house have become the bedroom and utility spaces, while the new space is more open and allows a continuous flow of living areas over two levels. This well-appointed house is now equipped with a gym, study, pool, outdoor shower and retreat space, as well as all of the essentials, and is well suited to the demands of a young family.

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Quirky elements like the oversized Anglepoise lamp work well in contrast with the classic lines of the generous sofa.

Image: Derek Swalwell

The transition between interior and exterior is managed with strong visual connections between spaces in the house, as well as to outdoor elements. One living room wall with low-level windows runs right up to the pool edge, making the pool a strong element within the room. The opposite wall opens entirely onto a double-height outdoor room, which is defined by a timber screen at the upper level. Large bifold windows off the retreat and hall upstairs open onto a double-height void space in the living room, which echoes the adjacent outdoor room, further blurring the defining boundaries of the house.

Materiality is key in this project. Simple, strong materials, such as engineered stone, black butt timber, polished concrete and charcoal aluminium, are expressed honestly. Whole walls of glazed joinery at the lower level accentuate the heavier, cantilevered form above, while the battened timber elements break down strong sunlight on the north side of the house.Signatures from an architect well versed in residential projects.

The dark hues of the exterior are brought inside with the floors and majority of walls in tones of charcoal. Furnishing such an austere backdrop without looking dull or jarring is no easy feat. Elements such as the soft leather chair tone with the rich natural timber elements but others, like the bright red steel table and blue chairs, also add life and a note of playfulness. The clean palette of the house is enriched by the thoughtful interior design, providing a robust but stimulating home.