House near road
Creating a family home of their own in the Balmain suburb of Sydney, architect Andrew Benn and interior-designer Alice Penna of Benn + Penna reimagined two interconnected semi-detached, Victorian-era workman's cottages.
(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

cottages cascade

Many of these cottages cascade down the hills of this once-working-class, harbour-side peninsula.

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Top view of house

Over the years the two houses had become 'divorced' from each other with different materials used. So timber was chosen as the consistent material palette, which sits comfortably alongside the historic fabric of heritage Balmain.

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Enterance of house

Benn + Penna's idea was to create two houses that were part of a whole, yet separate family homes for Andrew and his wife, and Andrew's mother and her partner. 

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Stairs and sofa

The dilapidated dwellings burdened with crude additions, once dark and introverted, now swell with light and life. 

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Bedroom with bed

Though the design is lively, striking and geometric, it is also adaptable, offering shade from the sun, direct harbour views, and privacy from neighbours.

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Open shelf

Inside, the use of timber and geometrics continue to play to the different characters and needs of the families.

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Open shelf and door

One house has a contemporary aesthetic, with references to Scandinavian design using birch plywood joinery and lime-washed timber floors. 

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

kitchen with sink

...the other uses a warmer palette of finishes with a focus on natural materials such as slate and recycled Australian timbers.

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Living room with fire place

The aim was to create light, open-plan houses that were more 'semi-attached' than 'semi-detached', reassembled for family living.

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

House with wooden flooring

Built-in storage and furniture increase the sense of space in both houses

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

livingroom with chair and open shelf

Though constantly connected, the houses offer occasional moments alone. 

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Stairs and frames

The cottages take advantage of all the available light.

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

Kitchen with sink

Each detail has been carefully considered, down to the hidden plumbing below a kitchen island. 

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Terrace view

The pair of dwellings create an intimate universe for the two families to grow together

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Livingroom with sofa

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Stone wall

There is flow and interconnectedness between the two houses: for example, the stone wall that divides them has in-built peep holes; and you can slink through a gap at the end. 

(Image credit: Katherine Lu)

House near road

This is self-described 'textured modernism'- homes that are clearly contemporary but with a layering and grain that speak to the historic area of Balmain.

(Image credit: Tom Ferguson)

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).