Alex Urena Design Studio wins TIDA Australia Designer Home of the Year

While the owners wanted a new 4-bedroom family home designed for this property, they also wanted it to honour the essence of the 1940s cottage that had originally been on the site.

The approach was to design the house as three interconnected wings, with the secondary bedrooms towards the street appearing to belong to the original cottage, joined to the what would appear to be the modern part of the house – two ‘new’ wings to accommodate the master suite and living areas.

A full-length corridor links front and back, with a custom perforated brick wall at the end of the corridor to separate the paths to the master and the living areas.

Whilst all secondary rooms have flat ceilings, the open-plan kitchen/dining/living area sits under an off-centre raked ceiling, lined in timber boards from end to end. A custom triangular window washes the space in northern light, with additional high windows throughout bringing even more light into the space.

Externally, the front is clad in traditional weatherboards with mitred corners.

The garage is clad in light timber and includes a seamless garage door. Its curved edge near the front porch, as well as a metal awning and planters, give a more modern touch that suggests a link to the material selection to be discovered at the rear.

At the back, the master and living pavilions are clad in timber and metal respectively, and sit proud behind the outdoor living area to contrast the cottage look from the front.

Light coloured bricks and pavers, combined with the off-form concrete BBQ backdrop and the cantilevered timber-lined terrace roof add dramatic effect to the pool and yard.

The TIDA judges were impressed with how the initial concept of old and new design features had been conceived and then so deftly implemented to create a home that now 

Designed by: Alex Urena Design Studio

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Shaw Photography