Award Winning, Merewether

Winner 2018 HIA Hunter Region Renovation/Addition project $750,000+

18 Stanley street is an alterations and additions project located within the Garden suburb Heritage conservation area. The project exemplifies what is possible when the client, architect and builder commit to delivering a timeless yet contemporary addition that pays respect to the importance of the heritage setting in which it resides.

The former condition of the home was almost unsalvageable however the significant restoration works ensured that the character and integrity of the original dwelling were upheld.

The contemporary addition to the rear pays respect to the existing dwelling by having a clearly defined break, being the stair and main entry. The new two storey volume at the rear is respectfully scaled to minimise impact on the neighbouring dwellings and the conservation area as a whole.

The materiality of the rear extension has been carefully executed and draws upon the past while adding a contemporary layer. The combination of brickwork and detailed board and batten cladding has direct links to the past but will further ensure the timelessness of the design as a whole.

The internal space has been maximised through the use of a loft style design with raked ceilings and operable skylights enabling the upper floor volume to remain quite low in respect to the neighbouring dwellings.

The combination of blackbutt flooring and neutral wall and ceiling finishes bring the timeless exterior through to the interior. A double height timber screen to the stairs acts as a balustrade but also expresses the spatial volume of the dining and kitchen space. The height of this space is in contrast to the lower height ceiling over the living area in an effort to make this space calmer and more intimate.

Similarly, the volume and variation in ceiling height over the rear is expressed through the double height brick blade that extends up to the raked ceiling over. This space again has deliberate variations in ceiling height to enable the occupants to choose a suitable seating place summer or winter.

The execution of this design has saved another building in the heritage conservation area from demolition. The quality of the design and build adds another historical layer to the context whilst paying homage to the original craftsmanship evident throughout the Garden Suburb Heritage conservation area.