Play Roof

PLAY ROOF
This inner-city terrace home has been in the client’s family for three generations. Over this time, the suburb of Ultimo has changed radically with the recent development of a high-rise, high-density Darling Harbour precinct to the east, significantly overshadowing and compromising the amenity of the existing house. To preserve the amenity of sun, light, and open space for the next generation the house needed to adapt. Located in the City of Sydney’s Heritage Conservation Zone, the strict planning framework meant that this adaptation needed to be achieved by a series of small architectural moves.
The addition of a roof-top terrace provides a timber-lined terrace that receives direct sun. The access to the terrace is via a glazed roof-light that allows natural daylight deep into the house interior and provides a central lung that allows the house the breathe. A balcony extension to the children’s room creates a safe, outdoor space where the kids can play independently. The replacement of the windows with double glazing, photovoltaic panels, services upgrades, and specification of sustainable materials has created a sustainable family home fit to serve this, and future generations.
Project Team
- Alexander Symes
- Branko Jaric
- Katja Gavran
Builder
- Just Screw It
Consultants
- Cantilever
Photography
- Barton Taylor
Council
- City of Sydney
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About the
Professional
Alexander Symes Architect was founded in 2014 with a mission to advance sustainable architecture. The world’s climate is changing and we believe that architecture must lead the way in changing how we utilise resources to contribute to a sustainable future.
This vision for sustainable architecture is layered through all aspects of our practice and through all the stages of a project. This starts with the examination of a project brief to ensure the grounding principles of a project support a sustainable way of life. As the project takes shape, Alex deploys his depth of technical expertise to realise the project to its full potential.
Alex’s technical expertise in building physics and facade system design is built on the experience he gained working in Arup’s Building Physics and Facade Engineer teams from 2010-2014. He has hands-on experience with construction and design for manufacturing assembly (DFMA) and a passion for how buildings are put together.
Alex has specialist training in the design and delivery of passive houses which we believe offer a pathway towards exceptionally comfortable and healthy homes. Alex loves collaborating with like-minded individuals and testing the boundaries of how we can challenge the status quo to advance sustainable architecture.
- Year founded2014
- ArchiPro Member since2023
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