Despite its small size, the house is a spacious dwelling – a feature supported by its clear separation of functions and its joyful, tactile materials.
In this dense and lively part of Darlinghurst, the entry sequence, from the street to the first level entry, generates both feelings of protection from and connection to its surroundings.
The house works like a vertical apartment, where each room is located on a separate storey.
The folded metal staircase is as much a sculptural object as circulation space (with perfect light for plants).
Each level has a different feel.
The bedroom level is inward-looking and private.
The kitchen level is sunnier with glimpses of view.
On the top level, the building opens up to the sky and the city.
Our intentions were to catalyse the (re)activation of the building across its two street frontages; to create a compact, sustainable dwelling, establishing a precedent for the area, and for other underutilised inner-city commercial terraces.