By Paragrid Architecture
Completed 2017
Part of a quiet residential area in Sydney’s inner west, this project represented a challenge for the neighbours, local authority and clients budget and design requirements. Through careful analysis, and a tight framework of sight-lines and restrictions, this house provides modern open-plan living while nesting into existing heritage streetscape.
Focusing on restoration, this project highlights the original features of the house, while bringing it into the twenty first century. Retaining and reinstating the original facade of the house, new additions are ‘invisible’ from the street front, allowing it to be kept in its initial form. The existing front layout was preserved, and the new works were isolated to the rear of the site, allowing the incorporation of new materials into the outdoor spaces, lane and side street.
The house allows for additional natural lighting, and an improved relationship between internal living spaces and external, private open space. Landscaping provides a connection between the living areas and screening systems in the interior allow for different hierarchies of privacy within the open plan living space.
A close collaboration between architects, clients, builders and trades have resulted in a well executed project, with refined detail through timber choices, fittings and fixtures. The clients were personally involved in hand crafting fixtures, which allowed them to ‘own’ the space rather than just making selections. The architect and the client designed and created these together.
Photography by Ben Guthrie
Paragrid Architecture
We are a team of architects in Annandale, focusing on heritage and conservation work.
We specialise in domestic heritage restoration, renovations and additions from initial design to completion. Our projects range in size from small to large scale residential and commercial projects. We have done incredibly small shops in the Strand Arcade to restoring grand mansions on Johnston Street, Annandale. Paragrid also provides heritage consultations, planning and expert witness services.
The principal architect, David B Springett, has over 30 years experience as an Architect and has lectured at UTS, UNSW, Whitehouse School of Design and TAFE Sydney.
We started in Annandale in 1983 making and selling drafting equipment to designers and architects and converted an old ‘sweets’ factory in Johnston Lane in Annandale into our architecture studio. Our studio is now located at 83 Johnston Street, next door to the Annandale Creative Arts Centre.
Generally we take projects all the way from design to construction and completion. We have at least one part-time student and a graduate along with the principal, David Springett, and actively encourage ongoing practical education and then registration as an architect for all out staff.
We have been awarded the following prizes for our work: 1993 Balmain Urban Ideas Competition, Highly Commended'; 2009 National Trust Renovation, > $1 mil, Highly Commended (but we don’t really enter awards or competitions, it usually means we do a lot of work for nothing, we would rather have a coffee and cake and charge our clients less fees).
Our design approach focuses on what your needs and desires are and work with local councils and consultants to bring the best scheme to completion in a team approach. We do not impose a style or pre conception to your project and we are there for the whole project - from ideas to project management to completion or any phase in-between.
We look forward to working with you.