Balmain Cottage
2015 Wan Country / Balmain, NSW
Incorporating heritage sandstone elements with lightweight construction.
We have designed alterations and additions to a number of heritage-listed buildings over the years.
Balmain’s Heritage Restored in Stone
A finely crafted sandstone home, modest yet enduring in form.
This modest late-Victorian sandstone cottage on the Balmain peninsula is one of the finer ones. It was built of stone quarried from the site, to replace an earlier dwelling that had burnt down by master mariner, ship owner and mayor Captain John Greenway Punch in 1890.
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“Heritage sandstone meets light-filled contemporary living. Modest in form yet rich in detail, this Balmain home balances solidity with openness, creating a warm, enduring connection to its past.”
Our work was limited to the rear portions of the dwelling and consisted of new living areas over two levels.
The lower, sunk partially into the sandstone bedrock, opens onto the east-facing garden, the upper takes advantage of leafy district, inner harbour, and city skyline views, and gives our clients a sense of being in the garden. It incorporates sandstone elements of the original dwelling and later additions, yet is largely of lightweight construction as a counterpoint to the solidity of the original.
We were pleased to work with some very fine builders, dedicated to their craft. The challenging excavation beneath the existing cottage and into the sandstone bedrock was nimbly and expertly handled.
Awards & Recognition
2015 Smeg Venice Biennale Tour Competition
Winner
Balmain Cottage Gallery
| Project info | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Sam Crawford, Claire McCaughan, Chelsea Harper, Ken Warr |
| Builder | SQ Projects |
| Consultants | Structural Engineer – Northrop Quantity Surveyor – QS Plus Hydraulic – ITM Design Heritage – Weir Phillips Architects and Heritage Consultants Colour – Dig Design & Colour Landscape – Spirit Level Land Surveyor – Stutchbury Jaques Lighting – LPA AV – New Fidelity |
| Council | Leichhardt |
| Photographer | Lucy Rimmer and David Maes (SQ Projects) |
| Awards | 2015 Smeg Venice Biennale Tour Competition – Winner |
| Completion | 2015 |
What we do
Houses
Thoughtfully designed homes that reflect how you live, now and into the future. We design spaces that quietly elevate how people live and connect. These are the qualities that define our work & create a lasting, positive impact. Learn more about our residential home architecture.
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