What a fun project, thanks to great clients Lisa & Richard.  

A home that has been in the family for many years has a significance that grows by the year. Neighbourhood connections, lifelong friendships and support networks can all be retained when there is generational change.  

The home sits on a large, irregularly shaped block in West Pennant Hills, part of the North-west growth corridor and Metro catchment. Within walking distance to shops and schools and easy access to transport infrastructure, it is a great place to live. Narrower at the front, the house sits back from the street, and the garden opens up to a generous garden.  

Originally, the garden was accessed by a circuitous internal path, past bathrooms and through the kitchen. It was a remnant from where gardens were not valued as adult spaces, but merely for children and drying laundry.  

Made from timber weatherboard, with most of the floor under one long simply pitched roof, the home typified the austerity of post-WWII construction (materials and taxes enforced simple small homes), but also embraced the modern, light filled zeitgeist of the the aspirational baby-boomers.  

Whilst it may have been easier to demolish and rebuild a new project home, Lisa and Richard really wanted to embrace the qualities of light they already enjoyed. Improving the amenity was also important in a connection to the garden spaces, a separate master bedroom, larger living areas with original lounge as secondary living space, car parking and updated kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.  

We used proportions, heights and volumes directly taken from the original cottage, just interpreted differently.  

Reworked floorpan is now clear and concise with separate private areas for bedrooms, distinct from the more public, active, living spaces. Now the garden has also become a part of the floorpan.  

Material selection was also lightweight timber framing as per the original construction. This also helped with budget.  

It has attracted the attention of the neighbourhood, inviting discussion on architecture.

Now the home is ready for the next 60 years with all of its original qualities-just enhanced.