02 Theextanthallwayopens
toviewsoftheverdant
reargarden,beyondthe
open living space.
03 The mezzanine’s exposed
timber beams resonate
with those of the main
ceiling above.the constraint not existed. Despite this limitation, Nick felt that
intheenditwasaboonfortheproject.Withtheformbeinga
given, energy was diverted into exploring and refining the finer
detail–anditshows.Fromthemacrogestures,suchascreating
viewstothegardenattherearalongtheEdwardianhallway,to
thesubtleshiftfromtheexistinghomeintoaloftyNewYork-
style warehouse space, every aspect is considered and resolved.
Themezzanine,deliberatelyheldoffthewesternboundarywall
tomaintainthedouble-heightvolumeasonestepsdownintothe
newspace,wasapparentlyalatecomerinthedesign.However,it
hasbeenintegratedperfectly–itsexposedtimberbeamsresonate
withthoseonthemainceilingtocreateawarm,intimatescale
tothefamilyroombelow.Thekitchenjoinery,too,isawarmand
precise timber insertion within the “warehouse” space, forming a
backdroptotheheroicallylargestoneislandbench that anchors
the tall volume and is the heart of the home.
The biggest decision of the project was determining how far
south to take the large glazed gable. Considering the southern
orientationofthewindows,andbalancingthedesirefora
generous entertaining zone with the need for some open garden
space,thefinaldecisionfeelsperfect.Withthelargedoorsopen,
a small but useful courtyard seamlessly extends the interior, yet
itcanstandaloneasafunctionaloutdoorspaceinitsownright.
Walking the rear laneway to the house, we pass several
examples of other architects’ versions of a “second address” to
these Edwardians; behind the polite heritage street fronts are the
additions stitched to their hosts. While most of the neighbouring
additions are busy distancing themselves from their counterpart,
theKensingtonCathedralhascapturedanall-too-fleetingqualityof
being obviously, but not combatively, contemporary. In the process,
Ha Architecture, Product and Environment has perhaps made the
already difficult debate around designing contemporary architecture
within a heritage context just that little bit harder to navigate.03
02