On the site of an old timber mill in Balmain, Truss House nods to the past through its materiality, while in its form, the structure mediates between adjoining neighbours of differing scale and type: a factory residence to the east and a terrace house to the west. Inside and out, it’s a rich and idiosyncratic rendition of a modern terrace home.

The house steps down in response to a sloping site, while its roof cleverly opens up to a skillion at the rear. Salvaged steel roof trusses are exposed on the upper level, framing clerestory windows that fill the home with diffused natural light, while ensuring privacy. Living spaces open to the rear garden or a landscaped light well through the centre of the plan. Upstairs rear windows have operable timber shutters to control light and views from inside. The raw building structure of recycled brick and hardwood, corrugated steel roofing, concrete floors, and steel roof trusses are given a crisp counterpoint by the sleek, white kitchen and bathroom.

Photography: Brett Boardman