Additions and Alterations, completed 2025
Awabakal Country, Cooks Hill NSW
This modest addition reimagines the dwelling’s connection to the outdoors. In contrast to the typical approach of maximising internal area by building hard to narrow allotment boundaries, the addition steps away from the northern boundary, deliberately reducing overall footprint. In doing so, a stronger connection to the garden is formed, with borrowed distant views to Centennial Park. Through generous northern glazing, the living spaces open into the setback, reinforcing a continuous relationship between interior and landscape without compromising the program.
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The narrow western façade forms a dynamic edge to the building, offering protection in the warmer months while opening to the setting sun in winter.
Its form complements the original dwelling while subtly reworking its proportions, establishing a calm and coherent relationship between old and new that respects the character of the existing home.
The existing dwelling consisted of a rear lean-to containing the kitchen, living, dining, bathroom, and laundry. With the wet areas positioned to the rear, the plan suffered from limited access to natural light and a weak connection to the outdoors, resulting in enclosed, inward-facing spaces.
New compact wet areas are integrated within the existing footprint, where access to natural light is limited. Carefully positioned skylights introduce daylight from above, creating calm, light-filled spaces with a sense of volume.
A palette of raw, natural materials ensures the building will age gracefully, developing character and patina over time.
Builder: Lexar Construction
Engineering: AES Engineering
Photographer: Alex Mcintyre
Similar Projects: Aru House, return to all projects
Awabakal Country, Cooks Hill NSW
This modest addition reimagines the dwelling’s connection to the outdoors. In contrast to the typical approach of maximising internal area by building hard to narrow allotment boundaries, the addition steps away from the northern boundary, deliberately reducing overall footprint. In doing so, a stronger connection to the garden is formed, with borrowed distant views to Centennial Park. Through generous northern glazing, the living spaces open into the setback, reinforcing a continuous relationship between interior and landscape without compromising the program.
The narrow western façade forms a dynamic edge to the building, offering protection in the warmer months while opening to the setting sun in winter.
Its form complements the original dwelling while subtly reworking its proportions, establishing a calm and coherent relationship between old and new that respects the character of the existing home.
The existing dwelling consisted of a rear lean-to containing the kitchen, living, dining, bathroom, and laundry. With the wet areas positioned to the rear, the plan suffered from limited access to natural light and a weak connection to the outdoors, resulting in enclosed, inward-facing spaces.
New compact wet areas are integrated within the existing footprint, where access to natural light is limited. Carefully positioned skylights introduce daylight from above, creating calm, light-filled spaces with a sense of volume.
A palette of raw, natural materials ensures the building will age gracefully, developing character and patina over time.
Builder: Lexar Construction
Engineering: AES Engineering
Photographer: Alex Mcintyre
Similar Projects: Aru House, return to all projects
Additions and Alterations, Completed 2025
Awabakal Country, Cooks Hill NSW
This modest addition reimagines the dwelling’s connection to the outdoors. In contrast to the typical approach of maximising internal area by building hard to narrow allotment boundaries, the addition steps away from the northern boundary, deliberately reducing overall footprint. In doing so, a stronger connection to the garden is formed, with borrowed distant views to Centennial Park. Through generous northern glazing, the living spaces open into the setback, reinforcing a continuous relationship between interior and landscape without compromising the program.
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The existing dwelling consisted of a rear lean-to containing the kitchen, living, dining, bathroom, and laundry. With the wet areas positioned to the rear, the plan suffered from limited access to natural light and a weak connection to the outdoors, resulting in enclosed, inward-facing spaces.
The narrow western façade forms a dynamic edge to the building, offering protection in the warmer months while opening to the setting sun in winter.
Its form complements the original dwelling while subtly reworking its proportions, establishing a calm and coherent relationship between old and new that respects the character of the existing home.
New compact wet areas are integrated within the existing footprint, where access to natural light is limited. Carefully positioned skylights introduce daylight from above, creating calm, light-filled spaces with a sense of volume.
A palette of raw, natural materials ensures the building will age gracefully, developing character and patina over time.
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Builder: Lexar Construction
Engineering: AES Engineering
Photographer: Alex Mcintyre
Similar Projects: Aru House, return to all projects
Awabakal Country, Cooks Hill NSW
This modest addition reimagines the dwelling’s connection to the outdoors. In contrast to the typical approach of maximising internal area by building hard to narrow allotment boundaries, the addition steps away from the northern boundary, deliberately reducing overall footprint. In doing so, a stronger connection to the garden is formed, with borrowed distant views to Centennial Park. Through generous northern glazing, the living spaces open into the setback, reinforcing a continuous relationship between interior and landscape without compromising the program.
The existing dwelling consisted of a rear lean-to containing the kitchen, living, dining, bathroom, and laundry. With the wet areas positioned to the rear, the plan suffered from limited access to natural light and a weak connection to the outdoors, resulting in enclosed, inward-facing spaces.
The narrow western façade forms a dynamic edge to the building, offering protection in the warmer months while opening to the setting sun in winter.
Its form complements the original dwelling while subtly reworking its proportions, establishing a calm and coherent relationship between old and new that respects the character of the existing home.
New compact wet areas are integrated within the existing footprint, where access to natural light is limited. Carefully positioned skylights introduce daylight from above, creating calm, light-filled spaces with a sense of volume.
A palette of raw, natural materials ensures the building will age gracefully, developing character and patina over time.
Builder: Lexar Construction Engineering: AES Engineering
Photographer: Alex Mcintyre
Similar Projects: Aru House, return to all projects