Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Two Art Deco Flats Become One Laid-Back Beach House
A young couple fused two 1930s apartments together, adding a modern extension out back to create an airy family home by the sea
This 1930s Art Deco home started life as an apartment block containing two units on top of each other, with an external staircase accessing the upper level. However, a young local family saw the potential to transform it into one large, contemporary home, complete with a sociable open-plan layout and a brand new pavilion extension with a pool out back.
Dave Hudson of Milestone Building lent his expertise to the project, alongside architect Madeleine Blanchfield. “The brief was to create a cohesive family home while retaining the original character of the period, and reflecting its beach location with bright, airy interiors,” says Hudson. The finished home won a Randwick City Council Architecture and Urban Design Award in 2015, and has recently been nominated for the Australian Institute of Architects, Residential Houses (alterations and additions) award.
Dave Hudson of Milestone Building lent his expertise to the project, alongside architect Madeleine Blanchfield. “The brief was to create a cohesive family home while retaining the original character of the period, and reflecting its beach location with bright, airy interiors,” says Hudson. The finished home won a Randwick City Council Architecture and Urban Design Award in 2015, and has recently been nominated for the Australian Institute of Architects, Residential Houses (alterations and additions) award.
A show-stopping pavilion extension was the final addition at the back of house, along with a cedar-clad garage and pool. “We used complex and labour-intensive structural support techniques to retain the original home and create this contemporary space underneath,” says Hudson. With very limited space on either side of the house, due to the neighbouring properties, Hudson and his team overcame the challenging confines by building as close to the boundaries as possible – the project took a year to complete.
Seen here, the grassy backyard manages to include a functional garage and a luxurious pool. Designed by Landforms, the outdoor space has become an extension of the interior living area and is ideal for the Coogee summer lifestyle. Striking cedar cladding from Cedarspan disguises the garage and creates an appealing tactile timber wall, while exotic planting brings a tropical element that is restful and relaxing.
In harmony with the character and charm of the 1930s building, the new extension was designed with clean, sharp lines. A combination of concrete, glass and steel gives it a cool, contemporary edge while the structural poles blend with the original building fabric.
The extension’s structural concrete slab is a striking feature and highlights the contemporary aspect of the new addition, while other earthy materials, such as timber-clad walls, marble and encaustic tiles, mirror elements of the original house.
The extension’s structural concrete slab is a striking feature and highlights the contemporary aspect of the new addition, while other earthy materials, such as timber-clad walls, marble and encaustic tiles, mirror elements of the original house.
A polished concrete floor extends out under the floating pavilion roof, creating an uninterrupted flow from inside to out. Seen here, the covered verandah is the perfect spot for a morning cuppa.
The new pavilion extension contains the living and dining areas, while the kitchen was best suited to the original part of the house because it needed plenty of walls for storage and appliances.
The living room has a relaxed, laid-back vibe with organic textures and earthy tones, while the batten detailing across the ceiling pays homage to the home’s 1930s architecture.
The living room has a relaxed, laid-back vibe with organic textures and earthy tones, while the batten detailing across the ceiling pays homage to the home’s 1930s architecture.
A long dining table overlooks the garden and pool. A wall of concealed storage, built by Homestyle Kitchens, keeps clutter at bay.
Here, as in most homes, the kitchen is the hub for this family, and the rest of the house is connected to this central open-plan space – all ground floor rooms open onto this area. “The kitchen is located where the original living room used to be and the oven is in the original fireplace,” says Hudson. The open-plan design gives the couple’s young children plenty of room to play, while still being in plain view from the kitchen and living area.
Contemporary Flos pendant lights from Euroluce bring focus to the central island and contrast with the period features, such as the cornicing and ceiling battens. Erik Buch stools from Great Dane Furniture bring a retro twist and capture the essence of the eclectic space.
This new oak staircase leads to the three upstairs bedrooms, including the master bedroom with ensuite and a sunroom.
Throughout the house, the original features have been cleverly reused – the architraves, skirting boards and doors have been painstakingly restored, as has the original ceiling plasterwork. Much of the flooring, and many of the doors and window fittings, were retained and restored to keep as much of the Art Deco detailing as possible.
The master bedroom, complete with updated fireplace, leads into the sunroom. “It’s unusual to have a sunroom leading from the master bedroom. However, this layout allowed us to retain much of the existing building fabric, such as the cornices and ornate ceilings,” says Hudson.
The master bedroom, complete with updated fireplace, leads into the sunroom. “It’s unusual to have a sunroom leading from the master bedroom. However, this layout allowed us to retain much of the existing building fabric, such as the cornices and ornate ceilings,” says Hudson.
Encaustic floor tiles from Alexandria Tiles give the family bathroom a timeless feel, while contemporary fittings, including tapware from Astra Walker, bring it up to date.
As a classic 1930s liver brick building, there was a Heritage restriction on making alterations to the facade of the building, so the street-side exterior remains unchanged, apart from the removal of the external metal staircase.
While the front of the house may have retained its old-world charm, the rear of the property is a triumph in contemporary design, with the architect’s masterstroke being the stunning pavilion extension that encourages easy living with a sophisticated edge; all the while giving a suble nod to the building’s true heritage. The perfect mix.
TELL US
Now you’ve taken the tour, what are your thoughts on this pavilion-style extension? Tell us in the Comments below.
While the front of the house may have retained its old-world charm, the rear of the property is a triumph in contemporary design, with the architect’s masterstroke being the stunning pavilion extension that encourages easy living with a sophisticated edge; all the while giving a suble nod to the building’s true heritage. The perfect mix.
TELL US
Now you’ve taken the tour, what are your thoughts on this pavilion-style extension? Tell us in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A couple and their two young daughters
Location: Coogee Beach, NSW
Total size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sunroom, laundry, study and an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room
To begin the transformation, the poorly-built 70s extension at the back of the house was removed, along with a laundry and external metal staircase. “Parts of the original home were structurally inadequate, and required careful and considered demolition work to avoid loss of character,” says Hudson. A new internal staircase was built and three bedrooms were relocated to the first floor, while the ground floor was rearranged to create an open-plan layout more suitable for the family’s needs.