Mid Century Modern House

Architecture Residential Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

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1. Courtyard

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2. Front elevation

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3. courtyard

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4. main bedroom

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5. kitchen

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6. dining room

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7. courtyard

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8. main bathroom

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9. dining room

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10. first floor terrace

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11. front elevation

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12. living room

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Description

The original terrace house was situated on one of the only streets in Newtown not within a conservation area and within a street which was very eclectic and varied in nature. Changing the front facade of a terrace is not something we normally attempt, but in this circumstance on a tiny block of approximately 100msq it was our only option and luckily due to the nature of the site and surrounds it was possible. The owners of the house loved mid-century modern architecture and it was our aim to bring a touch of mid-centuty to their little terrace house. The end result was a warm, detailed, unique and beautiful home.

Questions and Answers

What was the brief?

The owners of this home had a great brief, it was clear and concise, it discussed function but also included their style and design direction. Functionally the owners needed more space for their growing daughter and a connection to their courtyard, in terms of style they loved mid-century modern architecture.

Key products used:

Cedar Cladding
Crazy Pavers from Eco Outdoor
Furniture from Jardan
Windows from Hanlon
Kitchen and Joinery from Authentic Creations
Tiles: Academy Tiles
Breeze Block Feature
Black butt Floors
Bathroom fittings from Roger Seller

What were the key challenges?

The first challenge was Council and getting them to believe enough in the vision to approve us. The second challenge was some huge bamboo on a neighbouring property which had grown so high it was making the boundary construction difficult for our builder. Negotiations and solutions had to be worked through to continue. sounds silly in retrospect but it had to be dealt with!

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

The clients were a small family of three and it would be hard to come across nicer people, Libby (one of the owners) and I were incredibly aligned in a design sense. Every item either of us selected we both loved. The owners are wonderful entertainers, who live life to the full, lots of laughter in this house.

How is the project unique?

This project was unique in many ways but my three favorites are:
1. Council approved the removal of the front facade and an extension at the front of a terrace house, this is unusual and exciting. This allowed us to create an entirely different frontage to the house. which is unique in the streetscape. It doesnt look like a terrace house, despite being on a small 100msq site . but it really is in the back streets of Newtown.
2. The owners didnt want to play it safe with interior design, they loved black and timber and texture, crazy pavers and quirky details.
3. We also achieved a hidden roof terrace off the first floor bedrooms. This little oasis is one of my favourite spots in the house. The view is to tree tops. You feel like you could be anywhere.

Details

Site size 100 m2
Completion date 2016
Building levels 2

Project team

Elaine Richardson
Elaine Richardson Architect design and documentation