Jacaranda House

The retained federation front and its formally defined spaces are juxtaposed with the open contemporary space extending to the garden beyond.
The stories of family life continue to evolve in the new space between the enduring jacaranda and its counterpoint, the fireplace with its own burgeoning memories.

The retained federation front and its formally defined spaces are juxtaposed with the open contemporary space extending to the garden beyond.
The stories of family life continue to evolve in the new space between the enduring jacaranda and its counterpoint, the fireplace with its own burgeoning memories.
The fireplace sits as counterpoint to the jacaranda and it is through these sentinels that exterior and interior merge. They juxtapose enduring memories with new memories, dappled canopy with solid mass, one to climb in and the other to support the house.
The house sits within the heritage conservation area much as it always has. The street presence remains largely unaltered with the exception of remedial works. The new works sit quietly behind and below the existing ridge, deliberately avoiding the tendency to tower a box above the existing.
The previously dark core is now flooded with light at the void-connection between the old and the new.
Previously excluded northern light breaks into the lounge room through the fireplace skylight
Much was asked of the rear elevation; fully openable to sides and ceiling with 2-way easy-sliding doors weighing 220kg each. Builder, Structural engineer, Door fabricator and Architect collaborated to provide a seamless ceiling plane, smooth rolling top hung doors, bracing and vertical support within the open cornered fireplace.