CrossCut House

Architecture Residential Mosman, New South Wales, Australia

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1. CrossCut House First Floor

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2. CrossCut House Ground Floor

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3. Kitchen

new kitchen with island bench and breakfast bar

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4. new stair and kitchen

This image demonstrates how the stair cuts through the floorplan to bring in light, warmth and a single circulation zone within the centre of the dwelling

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5. Powder Room

new Powder Room

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6. Ensuite

existing Ensuite refurbished as part of the work

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7. new dining area

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8. Entry foyer and stair

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9. View to hallway and stair

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10.

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11. Open plan space

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12. Living room and fireplace

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13. Entry foyer

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14. Balcony

Existing balcony refurbished

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15. Stair and hall

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16. Kitchen and patio

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17. Dwelling, garden and pool

The renovation was mostly internal with new expansive stacking sliding doors to the wall facing the garden

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18. Ensuite

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Description

In the CrossCut House, careful incisions and deft reworkings bring a new logic and ample light to an already generous family home. Built as a brick and sandstone federation period cottage, the dwelling had been altered and added to over several decades. While this endowed the house with space and amenity, it resulted in dark, compressed internal spaces and a lack of clarity and flow. Determined to make the most of the existing structure and proportions of the dwelling, we reconfigured a handful of internal walls to realise the home’s potential. Undertaking minimal work to the rear facade, we focused on creating a compelling and simple journey from the front door through to the open plan living spaces and the rear garden. By completely reimagining the existing stairwell, the dwelling interior was transformed, with a new cantilevering stair and timber feature wall drawing natural light deep into the house. The warmth of the timber is complemented by a refreshing monochromatic palette adopted throughout.

Questions and Answers

What were the key challenges?

Crosscut House is a much-loved double storey family home in Mosman a favoured north shore suburb of Sydney Australia. Although endowed with space and amenity, the home lacked clarity. Its original side entry led to dark, compressed internal spaces disconnected from the landscaped garden and pool to the rear.

What were the solutions?

Determined to make the most of what was there, we took an interior design lens to this project. Undertaking minimal work on the facade and house form, we reconfigured a mere handful of internal walls to realise the home’s potential. We introduced a welcoming entrance, improved the circulation, and drew natural light deep within. A new open-plan kitchen, living and dining space blurs outdoors with indoors.

What was the brief?

Apart from solving the dark and convoluted internal circulation spaces, we were charged with designing a new kitchen with butler's pantry, as well as an open plan dining and living space that opened out to the landscaped garden and pool, convert an awkward study into a comfortable 'working-from-home' space and powder room, a new entry foyer and laundry, new first floor bathrooms and ensuites, and the centrepiece to it all - a new stair void connecting the two floors and opening up the house.

Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?

Family of four plus beloved pets!

How is the project unique?

Our design brings about a more spacious, light filled dwelling with only a few changes to the existing doors and windows, and there was no additional floor space created.

Details

Completion date 2020
Building levels 2

Project team

Melonie Bayl-Smith Design Architect
Stuart Wilson Constructions Builder
ROR Structural Engineer