This bold renovation, in Sydney’s Manly, honours a century-old cottage by weaving heritage references into a contemporary addition which breaks new ground spatially and offers enhanced access to light, air and nature.
At the heart of the design is a reinvention of the original gable vent, once a static heritage element, now reimagined as an operable façade system which wraps the new two-storey rear extension in a dynamic skin which filters light, offers privacy and encourages airflow.
The transition from old to new is intentionally dramatic – passing from the ornate, dark, compressed spaces of the original cottage into refined, light-filled volumes that terrace gently with the site’s natural slope and segue seamlessly to the landscaped rear garden.
Two pitched roof forms define the addition with each tied to an internal function; one enclosing the robe while the other soars above the master suite. Inside, the exposed, rhythmic roof structure softens boundaries between bedroom, ensuite, and garden beyond.
Elevation from street
With clients who are social, yet reflective, the home cleverly balances vibrant public areas with tranquil private zones, in a design that pivots around a central stair.
Materially, the old and new are stitched together by a datum line that mirrors the terrain with heritage cladding below and contemporary detailing above.
- Year
- 2023
- Status
- complete
- Location
- Manly, NSW Australia
- Size
- 234m²
- Builder
- Blacklabel Construction
- Landscape
- Sticks and stones
- Structural Engineer
- Partridge
- Photography
- Katherine Lu
Awards
- 2023 INDE Awards South-East Asia: Shortlisted, The Interior Space
- 2023 MBA Excellence in Housing Awards: Winner