Hill Street, 2018. Sydney.

The Hill Street design separates old and new parts of the house with a 1.2 metre long garden corridor that is intercepted with perpendicular inter-building glass and a concrete bridge / corridor. This strategy opens up the main living spaces so they have a northern aspect, and creates a new north-facing courtyard in the eastern part of the site. The new rear addition is split over two levels corresponding and relating to the site’s topography that slopes from west to east. This strategy brings the level of the eastern part of the addition into closer proximity to the eastern garden’s ground level. The western room is designed for flexibility and adaptability. It has a two metre wide sliding wall / door, allowing for the space to be integrated into the main space as an interconnected office / library/ guest room as per client’s needs (see plan and elevations).

One of the plan’s strengths is that one dwelling has in effect become two potential homes. At some later stage, the client has the option, once her children have left home, of installing a kitchen in the existing home’s third bedroom, and living in the new addition, affording her a considerable income stream and flexibility in her living arrangements.

Location: Marrickville
Builder : Linear Building Services
Engineer: Martin Zimmerman