Houses Australia – August 2019

38 HOUSE IN DARLINGHURST

Thisprojectsawthetransformationofa former

electricalsubstationbuiltinthe1930s,locatedinwhat

wasoncea slumandredlightdistrictinDarlinghurst.

Thearchitect’smodestresponsetothecontextinvolved

makinga respectfulinterventionintotheexisting

grungyindustrialform.Behindthechiselledexterior

isanelegantlysparse,compact, minimal and mono-

chromaticinterior.

Thisinnovativehousebecomesa generous

homebystrivingtofilternaturallightbydayand

becominganilluminatedglowinglanternbynight.

A gossamerstairwithina narrowchasmconnectsthe

fourlevelsofvaryingheightsthroughanencrusted

outerskintoa crisp,black-and-whitesequence

offunctionalinnervolumes.Diversepatternsare

producedthroughlayeredfiligrees,veilsandscreens,

providinga securerefugefortheoccupants.

Venetianglassbricks,describedbythe

architectas“awildextravagance,”arewrapped

aroundthespaciousrooftoppoolterrace,providing

a shinyoasiswithintheurbancollage.Thefinal

skywardgestureistheembraceoffoliagefromthe

neighbour’smaturegumtree,remindingusthat

theambienceofa protectedand private backyard

is possibleeveninthecity.

Achievingexcellencethroughtheuseofa

restrainedpalette,thisexperimentalprojectisa bold

contributiontoa challengingenvironment,witha

refreshingdepth of thoughtfulness and consideration.

FromtheHousesAwardsjury.

For further coverage see Houses 128.

HOUSE IN

DARLINGHURST

BY TRIBE

STUDIO

SYDNEY, NSW

WINNER

2019

HOUSEALTERATION

ANDADDITION

UNDER 200M²

AwardforHouseAlterationand

Addition under 200 m² is supported by