A House for Grandma

A House for Grandma is a compact secondary dwelling set within a leafy 968m² site on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Designed as part of a broader renovation, the project reconfigures an existing home to accommodate multigenerational living with flexibility and dignity.

This 60m² pavilion balances autonomy and connection. Its modest scale is offset by generous volumes and carefully curated sightlines that open to garden views while preserving privacy. Recycled brickwork, honed concrete, and a restrained material palette establish a calm and enduring atmosphere.

The architecture responds to evolving needs—supporting independent living, shared family moments, and long-term adaptability. It is both a retreat and an extension of the main house, linked by a shared entrance and unified landscape.

With attention to light, form, and landscape, A House for Grandma offers a model for thoughtful, future-focused infill housing—responsive to context, respectful of its inhabitants, and rich in spatial quality.

AWARDS

Inside Out x Brickworks House of the Year Awards 2023 - Category: Best use of materials: Brick

Grand Designs Australia House of the Year Awards 2024 - Category: Small Renovation

NOMINATIONS

NSW Architecture Awards 2023 - Shortlisted: Residential Architecture Alts and Adds Category

Houses Awards 2023 - Shortlisted: Houses Alterations and Addition under 200sqm

Grand Design Australia Magazine House of the Year Showcase Shortlist Nominee 2024

ARTICLES

The Sydney Morning Herald ‘The Boomers renovating their homes in ‘a kaleidoscope of colours’ - May 2023

Houses Magazine Issue 155 ‘A House for Grandma’ - December 2023

The Local Project ‘Emphasised Warmth’ - December 2023

The Design Files ‘An Unused Garage Turned Sophisticated Granny Flat’ - December 2023

Dwell ‘This Brick Backyard House Doubles as a Sunken Living Room for the Garden’ - January 2024

Tiny House Zone ‘A House for Grandma: A Thoughtful Approach to Multigenerational Living in Lindfield Australia’ - September 2024

Restless Living, Volume 220 ‘A House for Grandma’

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

“Natalie Brcar of Brcar Morony Architecture provided us with exceptional professional service for our project from the design and documentation stages right through to construction and property handover (late 2022). Our project involved renovations to the existing house together with an extension to the rear of the property. Natalie’s consultative approach and attention to detail ensured the vision of our project is realised. The outcome of the build speaks for itself and the result is independently attested to by industry awards.”

Patricia.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Cantilever

Landscape Architect: Even Spaces

Private Certifier: City Plan

BUILDER

Cubic Construction Management