Darlinghurst House
This terrace, a listed heritage item, is one of a row of six and sits near the busy Victoria Street café and restaurant precinct in Darlinghurst.
While the main living spaces and bedrooms were roomy and comfortable, the rear of the house exhibited a typical problem of traditional terraces – a bathroom across the back of the building separated the kitchen and living spaces from the courtyard garden.
The project involved re-configuring the ground floor rear of the building. The bathroom was moved inwards and a new, bright living space connecting directly to the garden was created. A wrap-around window seat exploits the change in level between the house and courtyard. On one side, bi-fold windows fold away so that the window seat can be used from outside as well.
The existing kitchen contained recycled timber joinery and a custom-made stainless steel sink that were too good to throw away, so the while the kitchen was completely re-built, these elements were re-finished and incorporated into the new design.
Above the new living room, a deck provides space for lime, bay and curry trees as well as a pleasant outlook for one of the owners, who works from home.
Although the project was quite small in scale, it has made a huge difference to the occupants’ enjoyment of the house.