At first glance, this house renovation doesn't look architecturally notable. However, that was a unique project for us. Originally the house was an average fibro-cement cottage located close to Auburn train station. It was a run-down, dark and mouldy place with asbestos elements inside and outside.  

The client was very particular with her brief. She was a member of a large aboriginal family and wanted to extend the three-bedroom cottage to accommodate relative guests during their Sydney visits. She also wanted to have a bit more privacy for herself. We wanted to preserve as much of the existing home as possible such as the front living room and bedrooms. We added a fourth bedroom, ensuite, walk-in robe, and study nook. Spacious open-plan kitchen and dining areas were essential. We designed a large courtyard with a pergola above to increase internal space during large family parties. A new big laundry with an additional bathroom became a handy addition for the large family.  

A Weathertex facade lining was an inexpensive and straightforward solution to improve the house's external appearance. One of the critical tasks for us was to make the house accessible and convenient for the person with vision impairment. We had to eliminate all internal steps and specify the appropriate lighting level and colour. For the same reason, we selected white colours for most joinery and bathrooms tiling. 

The client and all family members were pleased with the new spacious, healthy-looking home. They enjoy the new house and have a wonderful time together.

Photos by Paul Worsley from Live By The Sea