Home is our sanctuary and, for one family, a renovation and extension designed by Sam Crawford Architects (SCA) has provided space and amenity that exceeds all expectations.
House in Stanmore is the perfect example of just what can be achieved when an architect has a vision and creates an environment that transcends the ordinary. The SCA team of Sam Crawford, Jarad Grice, Héléna Short and Jarrod Ruchalski has conceived and designed a home of distinction for their client in the inner suburbs of Sydney.
An ageing extension was demolished, and the original home was altered at the front to include two bedrooms, a bathroom, en suite and large separate playroom. A new attic bedroom and en suite were introduced within the existing attic room, and the original stairway was retained and altered to allow natural light into the centre of the house.
There were challenges to meet – the site is situated in a flood plain and positioned under a flight path – so the design was required to provide safety from water and noise to help future-proof the residence. Other aspects of the brief included a light-filled environment and an easily accessible home for comfortable living for all members of the family.
“Our client, a couple and their young son, asked for a light, bright and quiet house,” explains Jarad Grice, SCA Senior Associate and Project Architect. “They wanted a home that provides for a child with disabilities both now and into the future, and that would also allow the whole family to age in place together”.
The new L-shaped extension elevates rear living areas above flood levels and establishes the living, dining and kitchen areas as the heart of the home. There is privacy and the northern aspect has been maximised. A glazed façade with deep overhangs wraps around this space and a west-facing brick brise soleil provides shade.
The new living and dining areas are arranged across spaces with varied ceiling heights. The distinctive butterfly ceiling appears as a slung curve that floats above the main living area and contrasts with the adjacent dining room that features a lower ceiling. A wall of glazing in the dining room creates intimacy and also frames views to the yard.
SCA has introduced a wraparound concrete veranda that extends into the north-facing courtyard and pool area, and it functions as a seating edge to the garden, as a gateway to the outside and inside and connects to the landscape. A large mural by a local street artist has been positioned behind the pool and is a playful addition but also becomes a focal point of the garden.
The interior, with its clerestory windows, is then flooded with natural light. Along the south side, a north-facing skylight enhances the sensation of the floating ceiling as shadows move across the southern wall, ever-changing as the day and season pass.
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A separate rear wing has been added and contains the garage, a bathroom and laundry and a multipurpose room for cycle training and study. This wing adjoins the rear laneway and through the flexible design will be able to accommodate a future live-in carer, if required.
“House in Stanmore embodies a harmonious balance between technical innovation and a flexible calming retreat. Structural elements are expressed as design features – the curved ceiling, cross-shaped steel columns and concrete veranda. Versatile spaces accommodate the evolving needs of multi-generational living and ageing-in-place considerations, with tranquil domesticity achieved through a restrained material palette and a choreography of light,” says Grice.
A beautiful inclusion is the textural recycled brick wall that forms a sculptural boundary to the rear lane, and this becomes an interface which reinforces a connection to the urban setting. The undulating surface screens windows introduce visual interest and also discourages graffiti.
Sustainability measures include the adaptation of the existing heritage structure, reduction of demolition waste and extensive use of recycled bricks. The north-facing glazing with deep overhangs aids passive solar control, while the addition of skylights and extensive cross-ventilation. Solar has been installed as well as battery storage and rainwater is collected and reused. SCA used certified low-carbon concrete and timber was certified and sustainably sourced. The acoustic quality within the home was also enhanced by including comprehensive insulation and this has significantly improved liveability for the family.
Sam Crawford, Director, SCA adds, “The project thoughtfully addresses its complex urban context: it respects the heritage context while creating a contemporary extension that extends connections between indoor and outdoor, maximises spaces for family living, and contributes to the urban environment”.
House in Stanmore is a stunning example of architecture that supports a family and increases livability. The thoughtful details, such as the brise soleil and sweeping veranda, add style but are also practical. Old and new coalesce with ease and now House in Stanmore is a place for living well today and into the future.
