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Before & After: An Awkward, Skinny Terrace Is Artfully Resolved
See how an architect turned a tiny terrace on a tricky, triangular site into a functional and light-filled home
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking build or renovation each week. Here, Dean Williams, architect and director at Architect George, reveals how he maximised every millimetre of space in this tiny terrace with an attic for a bedroom in order to transform it into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with outdoor flow and space for entertaining.
The rear before works
What was the house like originally?
The existing house was a small single-storey terrace built around 1910 with one bathroom and an attic room accessed by a pull-down ladder.
What state was it in?
Liveable but tired. The original house was small and completely disconnected from the courtyard and outdoor areas. The rooms had no flow.
What was the house like originally?
The existing house was a small single-storey terrace built around 1910 with one bathroom and an attic room accessed by a pull-down ladder.
What state was it in?
Liveable but tired. The original house was small and completely disconnected from the courtyard and outdoor areas. The rooms had no flow.
The ground-floor plan before works
What wasn’t working for the client?
The house had no proper bedroom, only one bathroom and no connection to the outdoors. This also made it difficult to entertain.
The client wanted strong visual and physical connections to the courtyard and community park at the rear. They also wanted a functional and unique two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that reflected their personalities.
Rethinking your home? Find a local architect on Houzz to chat through the possibilities
What wasn’t working for the client?
The house had no proper bedroom, only one bathroom and no connection to the outdoors. This also made it difficult to entertain.
The client wanted strong visual and physical connections to the courtyard and community park at the rear. They also wanted a functional and unique two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that reflected their personalities.
Rethinking your home? Find a local architect on Houzz to chat through the possibilities
The ground-floor plan after works
They wanted to walk past the house and feel a strong connection to the home and a sense of personal identity that reflected them.
They wanted to walk past the house and feel a strong connection to the home and a sense of personal identity that reflected them.
The first-floor plan after works
What was your brief?
The physical size of the house wasn’t important to the client. They chose quality over quantity, which is the best way we can live more sustainably.
They wanted the home to be unique, and to be a strong reflection of their personalities and how they like to live.
Functionally, they needed two bedrooms, two bathrooms and strong connections to the outdoors. Greenery was important to them.
What was your brief?
The physical size of the house wasn’t important to the client. They chose quality over quantity, which is the best way we can live more sustainably.
They wanted the home to be unique, and to be a strong reflection of their personalities and how they like to live.
Functionally, they needed two bedrooms, two bathrooms and strong connections to the outdoors. Greenery was important to them.
The living room before works
What were their must-haves?
What were their must-haves?
- Better connections from the living areas to the outdoor areas.
- Spaces that were unique and of high quality rather than large in scale.
- A key requirement of the brief from one of the homeowners was to reuse the stained glass from the rear door of the existing house in some way. Three panels were repurposed in the first-floor rear bedroom balustrade. A nod to the original terrace, this gave a sense of individuality and historical connection to the home. The homeowners had lived in the house for three years before undertaking the renovation – long enough to become sentimental towards the original charm. It was lovely for the client to be able to bring the stained glass into the next chapter of the house.
What did you identify as the main issues here?
The existing house had a north-facing courtyard with access to a rear park that was completely disconnected from the house. There was little to no visual connection to the outdoors from the internal rooms. This was the biggest problem.
The challenge was the tiny, awkward and irregular shape of the site.
The existing house had a north-facing courtyard with access to a rear park that was completely disconnected from the house. There was little to no visual connection to the outdoors from the internal rooms. This was the biggest problem.
The challenge was the tiny, awkward and irregular shape of the site.
The kitchen before works
Was the skinniness of the property an issue?
Like most inner-city houses, the narrowness of the home was a complex issue. This house had an extra layer of complexity as the site was only 67 square metres and the shape of the block is completely irregular. The site has all these quirky angles due to the triangular nature of the block.
This tiny 67-square-metre site also has 13 different property boundaries, which added to the complexity.
Was the skinniness of the property an issue?
Like most inner-city houses, the narrowness of the home was a complex issue. This house had an extra layer of complexity as the site was only 67 square metres and the shape of the block is completely irregular. The site has all these quirky angles due to the triangular nature of the block.
This tiny 67-square-metre site also has 13 different property boundaries, which added to the complexity.
What was your thinking behind the kitchen design?
With the kitchen occupying the space under the stairs, it reduces the circulation area to almost nothing.
The joinery is considered but aims to be discreet. The joinery uses Walnut Laminex finishes with natural stone benchtops. The handles are integrated into the joinery to give a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic.
The small island unit is perfectly sized for sitting, preparing food, or pouring a glass of wine.
The kitchen was located in the middle of the house, as the heart of the home.
With the kitchen occupying the space under the stairs, it reduces the circulation area to almost nothing.
The joinery is considered but aims to be discreet. The joinery uses Walnut Laminex finishes with natural stone benchtops. The handles are integrated into the joinery to give a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic.
The small island unit is perfectly sized for sitting, preparing food, or pouring a glass of wine.
The kitchen was located in the middle of the house, as the heart of the home.
Tell us about the under-stair storage
This was an important consideration in the design of the kitchen area. A lot of the kitchen is under the stairs, including an integrated fridge, pantry and storage.
This was an important consideration in the design of the kitchen area. A lot of the kitchen is under the stairs, including an integrated fridge, pantry and storage.
What exactly did you do within the new design of the house?
The site afforded no room to spare and we focused on utilising every millimetre available.
The two-bed, two-bath home has a floor area of 67 square metres and a footprint of only 35 square metres. Many design decisions were made on the basis of scale.
For example, lever door handles were considered too opulent due to the 40-millimetre projection into the doorways. Flush pulls were used instead. The internal doorways are only 700 millimetres wide rather than a standard 820 millimetres wide – like a finely constructed boat.
The site afforded no room to spare and we focused on utilising every millimetre available.
The two-bed, two-bath home has a floor area of 67 square metres and a footprint of only 35 square metres. Many design decisions were made on the basis of scale.
For example, lever door handles were considered too opulent due to the 40-millimetre projection into the doorways. Flush pulls were used instead. The internal doorways are only 700 millimetres wide rather than a standard 820 millimetres wide – like a finely constructed boat.
With the removal of the rear of the existing house, the sun-drenched courtyard became visually and physically connected to the living areas, providing external space for entertaining.
Retaining the existing footprint of the original lean-to provides a semi-internal garden area with access to sunlight and greenery, which was more important to the client than the additional physical space that you could grab.
Retaining the existing footprint of the original lean-to provides a semi-internal garden area with access to sunlight and greenery, which was more important to the client than the additional physical space that you could grab.
The downstairs bathroom after works
A new, smaller bathroom was positioned within a triangular portion of the site on the ground floor. A somewhat sculptural element in the garden provides a curved shower with a skylight above.
The ground-floor plan responds to the objectives of the brief to provide living areas that are connected to the garden for entertaining.
Browse more images of small Australian bathrooms on Houzz
A new, smaller bathroom was positioned within a triangular portion of the site on the ground floor. A somewhat sculptural element in the garden provides a curved shower with a skylight above.
The ground-floor plan responds to the objectives of the brief to provide living areas that are connected to the garden for entertaining.
Browse more images of small Australian bathrooms on Houzz
A first-floor addition was added. The rooms are tightly planned to provide two bedrooms and one bathroom upstairs. All rooms have access to generous north-facing windows, and a green roof is located above the rear bathroom that provides a much-loved green outlook from the bed.
The reduced footprint provides living areas that are perfectly large enough and, with the connection to the courtyard, the ground floor has effectively doubled in size.
The reduced footprint provides living areas that are perfectly large enough and, with the connection to the courtyard, the ground floor has effectively doubled in size.
The dining room before works
Was storage a priority?
Storage was important and the house needed to contain all the owners’ possessions. They wanted the storage to be discreet and somewhat concealed to minimise clutter and maximise the sense of space.
That being said, they couldn’t afford to go overboard with storage space, given the home’s tiny footprint.
Was storage a priority?
Storage was important and the house needed to contain all the owners’ possessions. They wanted the storage to be discreet and somewhat concealed to minimise clutter and maximise the sense of space.
That being said, they couldn’t afford to go overboard with storage space, given the home’s tiny footprint.
What was the budget?
Around $300,000, which worked out at around $5,000 per square metre.
Financial decisions were embedded in the sustainable approach – to keep everything that could be kept, and keep it small.
The existing painted brick walls were retained to support the lightweight, first-floor addition. This meant no additional structure was required, which limited in-ground works to almost nothing and simplified construction to keep costs low.
Around $300,000, which worked out at around $5,000 per square metre.
Financial decisions were embedded in the sustainable approach – to keep everything that could be kept, and keep it small.
The existing painted brick walls were retained to support the lightweight, first-floor addition. This meant no additional structure was required, which limited in-ground works to almost nothing and simplified construction to keep costs low.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the structure of the new first-floor addition and the rear ground-floor bathroom with the green roof above it.
On the structure of the new first-floor addition and the rear ground-floor bathroom with the green roof above it.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
The new addition is deliberately singular in colour and simple in form so as to not further overwhelm the surroundings.
The lightweight addition sits quietly in its busy, grungy surrounds. It was a conscious decision to keep the colour and materials palette restrained.
The new addition is deliberately singular in colour and simple in form so as to not further overwhelm the surroundings.
The lightweight addition sits quietly in its busy, grungy surrounds. It was a conscious decision to keep the colour and materials palette restrained.
The exterior before works
What challenges did you have to work around?
The site was a challenge – one of the smallest inner-city sites you will come across. The house is also in a heritage conservation area with heritage items located in close vicinity.
The new contemporary addition needed to add volume with subtlety and restraint. Openings were designed as finely framed apertures to the rear and the green roof provides an outlook not only for the owners, but also for the surrounding dwellers alike, providing a nice contrast to the harder-built structures.
The project was a finalist in the 2021 local Inner West Council Built Environment Awards for demonstrating an excellent contemporary addition to a house within a heritage conservation area.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The site was a challenge – one of the smallest inner-city sites you will come across. The house is also in a heritage conservation area with heritage items located in close vicinity.
The new contemporary addition needed to add volume with subtlety and restraint. Openings were designed as finely framed apertures to the rear and the green roof provides an outlook not only for the owners, but also for the surrounding dwellers alike, providing a nice contrast to the harder-built structures.
The project was a finalist in the 2021 local Inner West Council Built Environment Awards for demonstrating an excellent contemporary addition to a house within a heritage conservation area.
Tell us about the indoor-outdoor connection
As the house is quite modest in size, it was very important to have indoor-outdoor connections to increase the sense of space and ensure the courtyard was used as a continuation of the living spaces.
An internal lightwell garden located in between the kitchen, dining area and bathroom brings lots of natural light into the home and provides immediate connection to greenery.
We chose to stain the external fencing in a dark stain. What this does is draw your eye to the end of the property rather than the end of the house, which emphasises the courtyard and how it is a continuation of the internal living areas.
As the house is quite modest in size, it was very important to have indoor-outdoor connections to increase the sense of space and ensure the courtyard was used as a continuation of the living spaces.
An internal lightwell garden located in between the kitchen, dining area and bathroom brings lots of natural light into the home and provides immediate connection to greenery.
We chose to stain the external fencing in a dark stain. What this does is draw your eye to the end of the property rather than the end of the house, which emphasises the courtyard and how it is a continuation of the internal living areas.
How does the new work address the issues identified above?
A few minor reworkings of the existing ground floor plan resulted in a dramatic improvement to the site. There is now a direct sightline from the front of the house to the rear of the courtyard.
Steel-framed doors were finely detailed to provide larger views and openings to the rear. Every millimetre of view was important. The steel reveals are honest, with fine edges, and detailed with alcoves and shelves designed to be filled with the client’s belongings over time.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
The house works so well because of the brief from the client. Choosing high-quality spaces over the quantity or size of spaces has afforded the client with much more amenity and a greater love for their home.
This project is an exploration of how to pare back, dwell in smaller spaces within dense environments, and provide a sense of personal connection.
A few minor reworkings of the existing ground floor plan resulted in a dramatic improvement to the site. There is now a direct sightline from the front of the house to the rear of the courtyard.
Steel-framed doors were finely detailed to provide larger views and openings to the rear. Every millimetre of view was important. The steel reveals are honest, with fine edges, and detailed with alcoves and shelves designed to be filled with the client’s belongings over time.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
The house works so well because of the brief from the client. Choosing high-quality spaces over the quantity or size of spaces has afforded the client with much more amenity and a greater love for their home.
This project is an exploration of how to pare back, dwell in smaller spaces within dense environments, and provide a sense of personal connection.
What are the defining features of the house now?
- Beautifully connected outdoor and indoor spaces. The footprint of the house is only half the size of the small site, which lends itself to entertaining and utilising the outdoors.
- The new green roof provides a green outlook for the owners and surrounding community.
- There’s a seamless connection of living spaces with finely framed openings to the outdoors.
- Textural qualities of new contemporary materials and the original structure. The materials are robust, honest and simple.
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
Interior fixtures and fittings:
Exterior materials palette
Interior materials palette
- Marble Hub Grigio Infinity natural stone benchtops to the kitchen and bathroom.
- Laminex in Oyster Grey to the kitchen cabinetry.
- Sydney Tile Gallery green terrazzo tiles to the bathroom floors.
- Sydney Tile Gallery ceramic mosaic tiles to the bathroom walls.
- Havwoods Mosman Rustic engineered timber flooring.
Interior fixtures and fittings:
- ABI Interiors brushed-nickel tapware.
- Lighting Collective light fittings and pendants.
Exterior materials palette
- Austral Masonry GB Smooth paving slabs in Nickel concrete, custom-designed by the architect and installed by the builder.
- James Hardie Axon Cladding to the exterior.
- Blackbutt timber decking.
The upstairs bathroom after works
Paint colours
Your turn
Which feature impresses you the most here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another clever redesign of a narrow urban home? Don’t miss this story – Rhythmic House: A Calm and Considered Redesign of a Small Home
Paint colours
- Dulux Natural White to the interior and exterior.
- Resene Woodsman penetrating stain to the fence.
Your turn
Which feature impresses you the most here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another clever redesign of a narrow urban home? Don’t miss this story – Rhythmic House: A Calm and Considered Redesign of a Small Home
Answers by Dean Williams, architect and director at Architect George
Who lives here: A young couple and their dog
Location: Newtown, NSW
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: One small bathroom and no bedroom, although it did have a little attic that the owners used as a sleeping space, which was accessed by a pull-down ladder.
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Size of the house before works: 35 square metres on a 67-square-metre block
Width of house: 3.4 metres
Size of the house after works: 60 square metres over two levels
Budget: Around $300,000
Architect and interior designer: Architect George
Builder: Pacific Projects