paddington 1
–

project team / andy harding, hugo harpley, binghi lamerton
builder / prime form construction pty ltd
joiner / mark watson design
photography / paul gosney

This project involved the total remodeling of a dilapidated Victorian terrace house in the heart of Paddington. The site contained a narrow terrace and a strip of vacant land which was utilised as the main circulation spine. The Victorian street front facade was retained and the new modern insertion was respectfully recessed between the neighbouring properties. A steep fall across the site allowed the rear of the house to be opened to the north and the district views beyond. The project was an exercise in exploring the contemporary reworking of the standard terrace model, within the confines of heritage constraints, while accommodating the needs of a young family.

The main street entrance was relocated to the new portion of the building. This provided a strong circulation spine from which all other parts of the house are accessed. The children's bedrooms are accessed from the entry area with a further stair linking to the master bedroom suite and study on the upper level. Visitors are brought down into the main living areas of the house as directly as possible via the open wide stair within the vertically oriented entry volume. The main living area runs the full length of the site from the reinstated light court on the street side through to the mature trees within the garden. The kitchen/laundry area relates to the courtyard and is directly connected to the garage/undercroft space below. The dining space is bounded by a banquette seat running along the change of level down to the living area. A series of doors lead onto the raised terrace over the garage or down to the garden below. The garden level had to be maintained to protect the existing trees and retain the rear lane access. An external hardstand and a covered garage are located at this level linking to a series of subterranean storage spaces within the undercroft of the house.