Annandale Residence
By Brooke Aitken Design
Briefed with an old boarding house centred in a heritage conservation area, Brooke Aitken was tasked with merging clashing aesthetics, the decorative and the minimal. Aitken’s aim was to keep the existing facade and extend backwards into the previously untamed derelict land at the rear.
Through the contemporary use of timber, Aitken hybridised the two areas and aesthetics, using Austratus Oak battening to the ceiling to create a filigree-esque feel to the extension, referencing the period details in the front portion of the property. With the entire house requiring underpinning, the front floor timber was relaid, utilising Havwoods engineered pre-finished oak “Venture” boards for a subtle and calming anchor.
The oak batten feature continued by cascading up the original stairwell in solid oak limed battens, as a metaphor for the vertical connection of the old and the new. To take this Victorian-era dwelling, and an eclectic brief, and produce a balanced yet contemporary project is a tribute to Brooke Aitken, achieving a space that not only resonates as a pillar of design but also fits the brief as a charming family abode.
Awards and
recognition
Professionals used in
Annandale Residence
More projects from
Brooke Aitken Design
About the
Professional
We are architects who believe interior design is an essential part of the design equation for seamless, coordinated and strong conceptual visions.
Brooke Aitken Design is both an architectural and interior design practice that focusses on the combination of both to create beautiful rooms. We are one of the few architectural practices in Australia that can both build and furnish a project. We design from both the external-in and the internal-out, blurring the traditional division between architecture and interior design for a finish that is seamless in vision. We specialise in mid to high-end residential architecture and design but are also well versed in and welcome many other project types. Our preference for architectural projects are ones that extend to the interiors, yet we regularly undertake interior decoration without an architectural requirement.
Brooke Aitken heads a small boutique team of architects and interior designers that are well trained in quality design and construction methods. We enjoy problem-solving and providing our clients with a fresh eye with both professionalism and enthusiasm. We work at many scales, whether it be feasibility and strategic planning for a corporate client or procuring a single item for a residential client. The practice is passionate about providing a design service that best suits the project, the client’s brief, and their aesthetics.
We have a strong contemporary aesthetic that stands the test of time beyond stylistic fashions. We term this 'Soft Modernism'. However, in each project we aim to weave the client’s personality and tastes, which makes each design singular. Beyond aesthetics, our aim is to create livable, sustainable and practical spaces which relate to the brief, budget and site. We concur with the tenets Slow Architecture Movement and believe that renovation can often be better than replacement.
Colour plays an important role as do material and decorative choices, but all are determined by the conceptual design response at the beginning of the project.