Transforming a heritage-listed corner terrace in inner-city Sydney into a contemporary open-plan family home that feels generous and private. The design delivers all the benefits of terrace living while overcoming the size constraints of its 19th-century origins.
Originally built as a bakehouse in the 1880s, the home has been thoughtfully reworked to suit modern life. A striking steel and timber staircase, featuring a skylight overhead and a three-storey bookcase, now forms the heart of the house, drawing natural light deep into the interior.
Formal living spaces occupy the restored front of the home. At the same time, informal areas and guest accommodation are located in a new rear wing, connected by an elevated balcony and central kitchen. Living spaces open directly to a courtyard garden – an outdoor room that offers privacy, light and a seamless flow between old and new.
The rear addition complements the Victorian character of the original home, while remaining deliberately distinct. Landscaping enhances privacy from neighbouring apartments, and every space is designed to be open, adaptable and full of natural light.
The design is sensitive to its surroundings in a conservation area and optimises modern urban living in a house that is light, open and flexible, with moments of unexpected delight.
