Maranatha House
Architecture Residential Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia
49 Images
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1. Front entry 1536 px 2048 px 379 KB Print - Low res only |
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2. Front elevation 2048 px 1536 px 369 KB Print - Low res only |
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3. Front entry and driveway / parking circle 2048 px 1536 px 355 KB Print - Low res only |
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4. Front entry detail and water feature 1536 px 2048 px 389 KB Print - Low res only |
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5. Eastern setback landscaping and water feature 2048 px 1536 px 338 KB Print - Low res only |
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6. Front entry 2048 px 1536 px 398 KB Print - Low res only |
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7. Entry vestibule view down hall 1536 px 2048 px 329 KB Print - Low res only |
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8. Entry vestibule view down hall 1536 px 2048 px 322 KB Print - Low res only |
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9. Entry |
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10. 1536 px 2048 px 354 KB Print - Low res only |
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11. Stair void |
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12. Kitchen, Laundry door and stair 2048 px 1536 px 313 KB Print - Low res only |
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13. Kitchen and connection to rear outdoor dining area and landscape 2048 px 1536 px 319 KB Print - Low res only |
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14. Kitchen Original sandstone was refurbished and the opening extended and tidied to create the new opening that encompasses the Kitchen 2048 px 1536 px 367 KB Print - Low res only |
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15. Kitchen - detail Fluted glass splashback 2048 px 1536 px 374 KB Print - Low res only |
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16. Deck, landscaping and dwelling 2048 px 1536 px 376 KB Print - Low res only |
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17. Rear deck 2048 px 1536 px 357 KB Print - Low res only |
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18. Dining room looking out to deck 2048 px 1536 px 350 KB Print - Low res only |
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19. View to Dining and Kitchen 2048 px 1536 px 383 KB Print - Low res only |
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20. Outdoor dining space and north elevation 2048 px 1536 px 348 KB Print - Low res only |
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21. North elevation and pool 2048 px 1536 px 346 KB Print - Low res only |
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22. Deck and Pool 2048 px 1536 px 325 KB Print - Low res only |
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23. Study 2048 px 1536 px 392 KB Print - Low res only |
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24. Study detail 1536 px 2048 px 367 KB Print - Low res only |
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25. Main bedroom 1536 px 2048 px 365 KB Print - Low res only |
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26. Main bedroom looking to outside 1536 px 2048 px 382 KB Print - Low res only |
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27. Main bedroom detail 1536 px 2048 px 338 KB Print - Low res only |
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28. Main bedroom looking to Ensuite 1536 px 2048 px 345 KB Print - Low res only |
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29. Ensuite 1536 px 2048 px 379 KB Print - Low res only |
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30. Dressing Room detail |
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31. Shower room Custom Neon light commissioned by the client 'Ta-da!' 1536 px 2048 px 319 KB Print - Low res only |
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32. Shower room Original sandstone wall was refurbished and sealed for this new shower room 1536 px 2048 px 385 KB Print - Low res only |
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33. Entry joinery detail 1536 px 2048 px 300 KB Print - Low res only |
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34. Dressing room detail 1536 px 2048 px 356 KB Print - Low res only |
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35. Sitting room and stair detail, glass floor 1536 px 2048 px 352 KB Print - Low res only |
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36. Library and bench seat 1536 px 2048 px 312 KB Print - Low res only |
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37. Bathroom 2048 px 1536 px 387 KB Print - Low res only |
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38. Lounge Room looking through to Study 2048 px 1536 px 320 KB Print - Low res only |
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39. Lounge Room 1536 px 2048 px 333 KB Print - Low res only |
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40. Study through to Lounge room 1536 px 2048 px 342 KB Print - Low res only |
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41. Utility Area and Rear garden Rebuilt / refurbished original sandstone 1536 px 2048 px 313 KB Print - Low res only |
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42. Roof / Site Plan 3508 px 2480 px 1009 KB Print - Low res only |
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43. Ground Floor Plan 3508 px 2480 px 1 MB Print - Low res only |
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44. First Floor Plan 3508 px 2480 px 928 KB Print - Low res only |
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45. North Elevation 9933 px 7016 px 2 MB A3 print |
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46. East Elevation 9933 px 7016 px 2 MB A3 print |
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47. South Elevation 9933 px 7016 px 2 MB A3 print |
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48. West Elevation 9933 px 7016 px 2 MB A3 print |
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49. Section A-A' Longitudinal Section 9933 px 7016 px 1 MB A3 print |
Description
Maranatha House, situated in Neutral Bay on the lower north shore of Sydney, is a study of layers - material layers, liminal layers and site layers. It is about peeling back, exposing, renewing and refining the spatial expression of a house with many histories.
The original sandstone cottage “Suramma” was built in the late 1880s, with the area adjoining the north-east boundaries now known as Warringa Park. Subdivision in 1958 created the unusual site shape and battle-axe access, curtailing the legibility of the house from the street which extends to the present time. Since the 1920s, the cottage had been altered and extended on all sides, with the early 20th century framed eastern wing and brick entry foyer to the south included in the Contributory heritage listing with the local Council.
Presented with the existing dwelling, we were tasked with spatially unifying the house - making sense of its disparate spaces and creating better connections within the house, to its site and its surrounds. With strict heritage and planning controls to observe, and in acknowledging the site constraints, we extended the enclosed areas of the house by only a few square metres. The realised design is an exercise in examining every spatial connection and expression of the dwelling at its most fundamental level.
Our design approach leans into art-like framing strategies, to address the brief and bring about functional flexibility, aesthetic delight and environmental performance. External and internal views are aligned and articulated, dissolving traditional floor plan limitations with minimal additional footprint.
The floorplan accommodates a future adaptable living arrangement, passive and active energy efficiency installations, retention and refurbishment of the original sandstone, and a palette of simple materials that create a minimalist backdrop to the artworks and furnishings.
Generous natural lighting is achieved via glazed, steel framed elements balancing heavy masonry walls, with a new stair void aside the impressive insitu artwork AES, fabricated in collaboration between artist, architect/design, supplier, builder and joiner. Decorative and indirect illuminations culminate a dwelling that becomes an artwork in itself, coupled with sensitive landscaping that borrows from the neighbouring park and existing elements.
Questions and Answers
What was the brief?
We were tasked with reimagining the dwelling to bring about a contemporary, light filled home embracing the clients’ love of art and accommodating their blended family spanning generations, the existing building was examined at its most fundamental level. Outlook, light, aspect, material and landscape were all contemplated to spatially unify the dwelling within the strict heritage and planning controls.
A balance of open plan living, spaces for retreat and a well-considered floor plan that made best use of the available footprint was key to achieving our clients' spatial and functional brief. This also included rebuilding the existing vehicular access and parking, refurbishing the existing pool, completely overhauling the landscaping, and articulating the secondary utility spaces and structures.
What were the key challenges?
From a design perspective, the unusual site shape and the strict planning and heritage conservation controls made altering and updating the house extremely difficult. There was no opportunity to extend the house footprint beyond its existing situation, due to the required soft landscaping ratio for this site. Further, the external fabric of the heritage components was required to have minimal alterations only. We therefore focused on increasing the volume and height of the dining room addition from the late 1990s and making careful alterations to the similarly aged first floor addition.
Other challenges involved the proximity of neighbouring dwellings looking towards and across the site, and the relationship of the dwelling with the local park which adjoins the north and eastern boundaries of the property. Managing privacy with solar access, permeability and landscaped views was very important to the project.
How is the project unique?
The project carefully acknowledges the three key eras of construction and design that articulate the dwelling, given its heritage fabric and planning classification. This in turn resulted in a unique approach to knitting the disparate parts of the dwelling together - developing a language based on slender steel lines drawing the building together through different tectonic elements, rather than forcing parts of the dwelling to submit to others.
The in-situ 3D printed, embossed and carved artwork AES by Marcus Piper, fabricated in collaboration between Axolotl, the builder and joiner, forms a site specific and unique installation to the dwelling.
What were the solutions?
We extended the existing study northwards by about a metre, which not only afforded an internal connection to the dining space but allowed the reconciliation of levels.
Existing fenestration and openings were required to be retained in the original dwelling, with careful incisions made to the oldest sandstone and brick elements to accommodate new wet areas on the ground floor. Relocation of the stair within the two-storey space transforms the dwelling, with views to and throughout both floors now made possible.
In reimagining the rigid existing floor plan, the spatial language is articulated by the masonry elements and slender steel framing. The glazed elements – new multipane doors and windows (traditional and contemporary), skylights, elevated flooring, balustrading, even the double-sided fireplace - introduce and conduct light and views through the dwelling and out to the sky, landscaping and borrowed greenery proffered by the park.
Given the complexity of retaining and refurbishing most of the existing building fabric and enhancing the limited footprint and floor area, a generous budget was allocated to manage and fortify all construction decisions. This included enabling the floorplan to accommodate a future adaptable living arrangement (arguably the best sustainable outcome), as well as passive and active energy efficiency installations and low maintenance material selections.
Details
| Project size | 247 m2 |
| Site size | 652 m2 |
| Completion date | 2023 |
| Building levels | 2 |
Project team
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Bijl Architecture | Architect and Interior Designer |
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Marcus Piper | Artist for the feature wall piece 'AES' |