Due to Council restrictions, we needed to excavate the rear of this 4m wide terrace in Surry Hills to enable us to get an extra bedroom and bathroom on the top level of this building.

Leaving the front two rooms structure as original, the Architect built a light-well and staircase in the middle of the building. This enabled natural light into every room of the house. Louvres to the light well at the top allowed for natural air ventilation and thus the use of environmentally, unfriendly air-conditioning was not required.
By placing the light well and staircase centrally, gave us a showpiece, on site built, staircase, but allowed every room the full 4m wide size.