Designed by Chenchow Little Architects, this semi-detached house conceals its historical origins and suburban situation. Initially built at the end of the 19th Century, one of the few original remaining features are the sandstone walls at ground level. ‘Simply remodeling the house wouldn’t have given our clients what they wanted,’ says architect Tony Chenchow, a director of the practice.
Click here to see more of the house.
The site, in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Bronte, slopes down dramatically towards the Pacific Ocean. ‘We wanted to embrace the view, but the original Arts & Crafts style home wouldn’t have allowed us to achieve this,’ says Chenchow. A contemporary first floor addition was ‘grafted’ to the house. Constructed in steel, glass, fibro-cement and encased with aluminium louvers, the first floor cantilevers above the original sandstone walls.
The ground floor of the Bronte house was restored and reconfigured by the architects. Three bedrooms occupy the original structure, while a new main bedroom, ensuite and deck were added to the rear. As the first floor is entirely new, the architects were able to design around a view. ‘You’re not aware of the ocean as you cross the bridge (leading from the garage to the front door). It’s only when you enter that you see the entire vista,’ says Chenchow. As the street is on the high side, one enters at the first floor.
Chenchow Little’s design features a series of verandas, decks and courtyards. A long corridor, linking the kitchen and living areas, is more akin to a ‘breezeway’ with external aluminium louvers. ‘It’s not supposed to be clear what is inside and what is outside,’ says Chenchow, who worked closely with co-director Stephanie Little. ‘The louvers are fundamental to the design. We wanted to protect the house from the harsh light. We also wanted to ensure privacy from the neighbouring home,’ he adds.
The first floor spaces are loosely defined from the courtyard and decks. The front room, used as a family room and office, has a large sliding door leading from the breezeway. The dining and living areas at the rear of the home are also flexible. Glass sliding doors frame this space on three sides, one of which leads to a covered deck, the other being roofless. ‘The wind can get fairly strong so we wanted to ensure the outdoor areas could be used for most of the year,’ says Chenchow. The architects were also keen to ensure views to the ocean could be seen from the central courtyard and kitchen.
The house has many features associated more with an inner-city warehouse rather than a house near the beach, including a sense of boundless space. ‘When you’re inside, you’re not aware of neighbours,’ Chenchow explains, ‘so the focus is directly towards the water as soon as you get past the front door’.
INFORMATION
Interactive floor plans
#1 Cabin, Montrouge, F
#2 Snail House, Engadine, CH
#3 New residence, Larisa, GR
#4 Residence F, Kronberg, D
#5 Ellsworth residence, Arizona desert, USA
#6 The Barn House, West Flanders, B
#7 Lilyfield House, Sydney, AUS
#8 Separation Creek House, Victoria, AUS
#9 Amalia House, Steiermark, A
#10 Bronte House, Sydney, AUS
#11 Holiday house, Vnà, CH
#12 Mountain retreat, Southern Lake, NZ
#13 Oceanfront residence, Montauk, USA
#14 Holley House, New York, USA
#15 New residence, Sydney, USA
#16 Claremont House, Chicago, USA
#17 Dupli Casa, Ludwigsburg, D
#18 Column & Slab House, Tokyo, J
#19 Cabin, Trondheim, N
#20 W House, Okayama City, J
#21 House 205, Vacarisses, E
#22 Haus D, Ljubljana, SLO
#23 Haus Spreng, Stuttgart, D
#24 Light Well house, Kyoto, J
#25 Austerlitz House, New York, USA
#26 River House, Virginia, USA
#27 Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, DE
#28 Putney House, Vermont, USA
#29 Vader House, Melbourne, AU
#30 Los Andes house, PE
#31 Casa em Lousado, Porto, PT
#32 Base Valley House, J
#33 Read-Nest cabin, DK
#34 Villa G, Bergen, N
#35 Lake Drive extension, New York, USA
#36 Ekali Houses, Athens, GR
#37 Island House, Kangwon-do, ROK
#38 Drummond House, Perthshire UK
#39 Grangegorman House, Dublin, IRL
#40 Warburton House, Victoria, AUS
#41 Casa em Lousado, Porto, P
#42 Rosa Muerta House, California, USA
#32 85 Swains Lane, London UK
#33 Shoreditch Prototype House, London UK
#34 Michaelis House, London UK
#35 Sunken House, London UK
#36 Monmouth Road (Gap House), London UK
- Website
- http://www.chenchowlittle.com
- Telephone
- 61.2 9357 4333
