House in the Garden

2020 Cammerai Country / Artarmon, NSW

Designed for our garden-loving client in Artarmon, on Sydney’s North Shore “House in the garden” is an addition to the rear of a modest, interwar bungalow set within a beautiful established garden. Our client’s brief for a “bedroom in the trees” informed our approach to the dwelling, maintaining the character of the original but opening up opportunities for light and views throughout.

The house is located in a heritage conservation area and contemporary work was not permitted to be visible from the street. Our response was to maintain the original gable roof form and work within the limitations imposed to make our client’s treasured garden the hero of the design.

A central void and skylight ventilates and draws light into the deepest part of the plan allowing connection between the main bedroom suite of the upper floor and the living and kitchen areas below. This illuminates the marble island bench, a prime gathering space for regular events. French oak timber floors and joinery provide a warm backdrop to the inviting cool of the garden.

The garden and surrounding tree canopies are continually re-framed and visually accessible from each space. Even the shower, though set back under the gable, still enjoys a framed view of the sculptural Gordonia tree trunk in the backyard, via a second double height void over the finely crafted steel and timber stair.

Thanks to the garden this house feels comfortably rooted in place, a peaceful sanctuary from the bustle of Sydney.

House & Garden, July 2020

Project Team

Sam Crawford, Jarad Grice, Ken Warr, Aine Dowling

Builder

Newmark Constructions

Consultant Team

Structural Engineer – Studio Structure
Hydraulic Engineer – ITM Design
PCA – Peter J Boyce & Associates
Quantity Surveyor – QS Plus
Joinery – Square Peg

Council

Willoughby City Council

Photographer

Tom Ferguson