church street residence

sydney, australia

the aim of this project was to create a master bedroom (with a small amount of storage) and an en-suite bathroom in a space that was previously just a study opening to a roof garden.

the idea was to maximise the use of the limited space so a bed platform was designed over the existing old stair.  the stair was the exact width for a double bed, with room beside for a small pullout wardrobe.

the bed has a small ladder for access and a fold-down panel for a book or breakfast-in-bed.

behind the bed is a 2.9sq.m. bathroom with a surprisingly comfortable 400mm wide entry door.

the bathroom contains a wc, shower and basin, all arranged with overlapping functions that maintain comfortable use at all times.  to use the toilet, the shower door is left open; when the shower is used the door is closed leaving a very generous 1.6mx1.6m triangle of space; and the spout for the basin hangs down from the ceiling due to a lack of wall space in front of the window.

a small historic anecdote relates to the fact that this was my own house 8 years before.  i obtained council approval for renovations and sold it to another architect who eventually sold it to the current owners who still live there, very satisfied with their bedroom and en-suite some 5 years after construction.