The site is located on a busy intersection in a heritage conservation area of Woollahra. There is an existing building conserved and adapted to a rug showroom for the client in 2003.

The new brief from the client, was to add a 2 bedroom residence to the site with an entrance separate from the existing showroom. The client’s aspirations, consistent with their earlier work on the site was to achieve a high standard of architecture which would be appropriate to the area. Special considerations included the requirements to minimise noise from Ocean Street and maintain visual privacy within their home.

Following an assessment of the brief, the addition of a dwelling and the resultant density on the site was considered reasonable and appropriate to the built form context. The placement of a new home on the corner location replaces a service structure and carparking area. This is considered to be an improvement to the built environment and adds to the diversity of dwelling types for residents in the area.

The architectural response was to minimise the effects of scale and bulk on the site, by articulating the lower two floors in masonry and housing the third floor within a light weight copper clad mansard roof.  The resultant form is similar to the buildings nearby and fits within the general bulk, scale and subdivision patterns of the terraces to the north and east of the site along Ocean Street.
This visual separation, along with the materiality and detailing on the new façade, assists in distinguishing the character of the existing building and the new proposal.

The orientation of the internal spaces are located toward the western boundary to reduce the impacts of noise from Ocean Street. The building form is setback from the western boundary and proposes appropriately designed screens and landscaping to retain the existing amenity of adjoining properties.

The proposal demonstrates an appropriate built form that is sympathetic to the area and appropriate in character, which provides a reasonable amenity for the residents and neighbours.

The addition of this residential dwelling will provide an appropriate use in relation to the site and will add to the diversity of architecture to the public domain.

The residence received a commendation in Single Housing Residential at the 2011 NSW Australian Institute of Architecture Awards. 2011 AIA (NSW) Jury Citation;

”A challenging collaboration between client and architect has created an environment with a rich spatial complexity that artfully transitions between the realms of museum and dwelling. The project is an astonishing integration of architectural space into a diminutive footprint, and is finely integrated into the existing building that it adjoins and extends through its interwoven form. Through the clever and careful manipulation of section, the house draws in daylight and provides intrigue through its unfolding sequence of spaces and heavily controlled light levels. The project successful negotiates a site exposed to high levels of traffic and skilfully moderates the environment through its edges, balconies and courtyards. Whilst it is a project that challenged many council restrictions, it should be considered an exemplar of urban integration through its accomplished handling of detail and form.”