A character cottage with a 90’s extension is completely altered to bring it kicking and screaming into the 20’s. The previous awkwardly-planned laundry and kitchen on the ground floor have been demolished to create a new open plan kitchen/dining/ living space running almost full length across the block. The new double-brick addition makes the most of the north-facing backyard with large, double-glazed sliding doors opening onto a new deck and pool, with a new high-pitched roof riffing off the existing gable extension and providing open, flexible spaces for the young family. New operable windows and a feature triangular window seat (a reference to the angled fireplaces in the old cottage) provide excellent cross-ventilation. The existing upper-level bedroom is converted into two joining kids’ bedrooms and a new ensuite is inserted for the main bedroom, with the other existing wet areas being refreshed. 

This remarkable design makes the most of the existing built fabric, referencing angles and forms from the old and matching material selection for a cohesive whole.