This is the third project on which we have collaborated with this particular family, though this time with the next generation. Being a young couple, they had purchased a delightful but very run down two storey terrace house, wanting to make it into a family home. The 1870’s terrace presented a number of challenges beyond those typical of inner Sydney terraces of masonry construction. It was a timber framed and clad structure built to the boundary on one side, without fire separation to the neighbouring property. Upon investigation, much of the timber framing was water and termite damaged. The timber floor structure was laid directly on the dirt. There was a significant amount of asbestos wall sheeting, no insulation in the walls and leaks in the roof.
What to do? Council was comfortable with us demolishing portions of the rear of the dwelling, but due to heritage streetscape considerations insisted that the front be retained. This left us and our clients with a conundrum. How does one waterproof or fire proof a timber building built to the boundary, with a neighbour house within 50mm? How does one maintain timber walls and floors that are rotten and termite eaten? How does one install and protect a new timber floor over floor joists laid directly on sand without damp of termite proofing?
With some difficulty……………. We will just leave it at that.
Our design maximises the sense of space on a relatively tight site, providing a new living space that is one and half height with an exposed concrete ceiling supporting a green roof over, and a small private courtyard to the rear. The main bedroom windows, which are screened from proximate neighbours by roof planting, enjoys district views.