Kurraba Point House

Sensitive renovations to a heritage listed house create light-filled family spaces.

The brief from our clients was to demolish the existing garage to the rear of their property and design a new breakout living studio space and an externally accessed storage space for their family of six.

 

 

In 2017, SCA completed a modest alterations and additions to the main heritage-listed dwelling on the property, which featured internal refurbishments, new skylights and a rear sunken living room with steel framed glazed windows and doors onto the rear garden. Externally the addition was constructed of recycled brick and was protected from the weather by a custom fabricated steel awning.

We designed the new studio with our previous work in mind and aimed to tie the two living spaces together through shared materiality (recycled brick, steel windows and burnished concrete floors) and by creating a visual link between the two buildings. The two additions frame the rear outdoor living area, and orientate activity away from the street, enhancing privacy and the connection to the garden. New recycled brick, sandstone hardscape areas, vegetable gardens, outdoor BBQ and planting designed by Studio U.C revitalize the outdoor living area. Dark painted fibre cement sheeting forms a recessive backdrop for the lush garden and for the vibrant colour internally.

The studio was designed to be durable enough for the day-to-day activities of a young family with teenagers, and robust detailing was considered throughout. Painted oversized plywood skirting boards ensure the walls are protected internally and create a visual datum which is continued externally. A similar detail is utilised in the storage shed, with full plywood sheets extending the length of the walls. Joinery is lifted off the ground to make the space easy to clean. Two skylights facing north draw sunlight into the space.

Kurraba Point House Gallery

Plans

Project info	Details
Team	Sam Crawford, Allen Huang, Ken Warr, Justine Anderson
Builder	Michael Downing Constructions
Consultants	Structural Engineer: Cantilever Civil Engineer: Partridge Heritage Consultant: Weir Phillips Heritage Consultant: Zoltan Kovacs Architect PCA: Residential Certifying Specialist Town Planner: Avenue Studios WSC: Ausflow
Council	North Sydney Council
Photographer	Brett Boardman
Completion	2024

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