An original Sandstone home with a bright glasshouse playroom for a professional couple and their two kids ready to dive into the deep heritage culture of this masterpiece of history.

A beautiful sandstone home in Sydney's Inner West, restored to its former glory to become the perfect home for a young and modern family. The owners, a professional couple with two young kids, were looking for a place with character, charm and a modern flow. They wanted to maintain the heritage features of the house while still making it their own.

They also needed a space that would allow them to entertain guests and let their kids play freely, both indoors and out.

One of the biggest challenges of the project was navigating the heritage overlays and the clients' desire to preserve the original structural elements. Another challenge was the lack of natural lighting and the limitation with themechanical ventilation.  

The existing living area was originally dark and uninviting, so we connected it to the attic with a spiral staircase, allowing natural light to flood the space. And for the mechanical ventilation, we got crafty - running it through the subfloor and concealing the outlets with customised timber grids.

We also had to work around the existing tropical garden, which was a crucial part of the home's heritage and history. But we managed to use the existing laundry space at the rear yard without compromising the garden's integrity and obtaining a kitchen connected to the garden.

Inside, we re-organised the layout to create new spaces for the family's needs. The bathroom and laundry were relocated to the darkest part of the house, while the enclosed verandah was opened up to create a bright and airy family lounge space. So, the kids can play here, while the adults entertain guests in the living room, now opened up to the upper level.

The renovation of the St Andrews Home has changed the living quality of this young family. The couple is thrilled with their renovated space, and their relationship with the home has benefited from the re-arranged of the existing layout, the improvement of the home energy efficiency and the increase of natural light.

A blend of history and modernity - a true gem in the heart of Sydney.

Location: Marrickville
Typology: Heritage renovation
Status: Completed
Architect: Carlo Russo 
Builder: MASS GROUP
Budget: $ 1.2 Million
Country: Gadigal