PROJECTS(^) // BUILDING
07: DESIGN SUBURBAN DELIGHT
LOCATION NORTH SHORE, SYDNEY
Taking this outdated family home on the lower
North Shore into the 21st century required a
clever reconfi guration that expanded the living
spaces and provided rooms more in keeping
with the needs of the family. Achieving this was
relatively uncomplicated given the trussed-roof
construction of the home, which is common
to the era and makes it easy to move walls
around. Once inside, the internal walls to the
entry, living, kitchen and dining spaces were
removed to completely reconfi gure the area.
“We capitalised on the benefi ts of houses of
this era ... a lot of them have trussed roofs and
the walls in the house can be changed relatively
easily,” explains Melonie Bayl-Smith of Bijl
Architecture. This process allowed for two main
living spaces to be created, making the best use
of what already existed and using small changes
to achieve a large transformation.
Architectural and Interior Design
Bijl Architecture (bijlarchitecture.com.au)
Builder Wilkinstruct
Photography Katherine Lu
08: DESIGN MOUNT LAWLEY HOUSE
LOCATION MOUNT LAWLEY, PERTH
Designing a home to fi t a triangular lot only 180
square metres in size was always going to be
a challenge, but building it was another story
altogether. The diffi cult site off ered a 1.5-metre
sewer easement to the rear boundary and a
diminutive 960-millimetre boundary edge to the
north, meaning a severe lack of space to store
building materials and access to the site. “The
builder and I had a great working relationship
and there was a lot of give and take, which I
think is so important in getting a quality result in
a timely manner,” says architect and homeowner
Simone Robeson. While the awkward site
proved tricky for the physical build, it did result
in a resourceful dwelling that refl ects the unique
nature of the neighbourhood. The fi nal design
produced a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home
with an open-plan living/dining/kitchen on the
upper level that cantilevers over the lower fl oor,
which contains the home offi ce and master
suite. All combine to become a piece of liveable
art in the inner-city environs of Perth.
Architectural Design Robeson Architects
(robesonarchitects.com.au)
Photography Dion Photography
09: DESIGN CREER HOUSE
LOCATION RANDWICK, SYDNEY
Business meets pleasure in this home in the
Sydney suburb of Randwick. Ultra-modern
in design, this dwelling was constructed by
homeowner and self-builder Luigi Mollica to
fi t his “all warmth and a no-fuss vibe” brief.
He started with a clean slate, demolishing
the original home on the plot. “Adapting the
existing house to suit the new brief required
extensive work, so it was agreed that the best
approach would be to demolish the existing
dwelling and start fresh,” says architect Tanya
Hancock. Notorious for lengthy approval
processes, Sydney Council nonetheless cleared
the plans relatively painlessly. “The house
was generally designed in compliance with
council controls to minimise requirements for
any amendments to the design and ensure a
smooth passage, with only minor amendments
requested by council,” says Tanya. Staying true
to a neutral palette chock-full of black, white,
timber and natural stone, the resulting ethos of
this abode is timeless.
Architectural and Interior Designer Hancock
Architects (hancockarchitects.com.au)
Builder Luigi Mollica
Photography Simon Whitbread
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