Carroll Watson House

Paddington, NSW
1998

This renovation and extension of a Victorian terrace house presents two distinct faces, the late nineteenth century street façade and formal living areas to the south and a late twentieth/early twenty first century lightweight informal living pavilion to the rear north facing courtyard and lane way.

The lower level of the original rear wing has been demolished and a new steel framed structure has been inserted to support the original upper level. This steel frame allows for the introduction of large glass sliding doors, a north facing external deck, with louvred roof above, and an 11 metre long suspended steel pond along the western side of the new rear wing. Integral with the pond is a translucent glass screen wall covering an existing irregular brick fence along the western boundary. This glass screen extends up to 1.5 metres above the top of the existing fence allowing light to enter both this and the neighbouring property at different times of day, while maintaining privacy between the two.

The rear lane and courtyard are approximately 2.5 metres below the lowest floor level, allowing cars to be parked beneath the new external deck. The existing stair has been developed as a transition zone between the old and new sections of the house. A new opening through to the original living room creates a breezeway, and a 2 storey translucent glass window, combined with a new skylight over the stair provide high levels of natural lighting. The existing second bedroom on the upper level has been converted to an ensuite and dressing room for the main bedroom, with a translucent glass screen allowing natural light to pass from the ensuite into the dressing room. A new stair with storage below has also been introduced into this space allowing access to the original roof space which has been converted to a bedroom/home office.

These new elements combine to transform what was a dark, cold introverted house into a light and well ventilated house which opens up to its external spaces and takes advantage of the climate and its ideal northern orientation.

Photographer: Ross Honeysett