webster residence

sydney australia

the webster residence is a substantial alteration to an existing two-storey terrace house in the sydney suburb of paddington.  the existing internal walls were removed, making maximum use of the minimum space, allowing the spaces to open to the previously obscured garden and the highly desirable northern aspect.  a clever manipulation of the side passage allowed the building to be widened on the ground floor level by 1m, without obstructing access to the rear garden.  this extension to the side also allowed for the introduction of sunshine to the dining/kitchen/living areas of the house over the entire length of their sculptural storage units.

the lower ground floor had previously been a leftover storage space under the house.  with minor excavation and the construction of a new concrete floor, the space was transformed into an entire new floor with guest bedroom, bathroom/laundry, a children’s rumpus room, and a new grand staircase beside a previously limewashed existing sandstone wall.

the design explores the nature of contemporary living in sydney.  where previously the house was disconnected from its site and closed off from its garden, the new living room, rumpus room and main bedroom now open directly to this northern aspect, and take full advantage of the relatively mild climate of this city.

externally, the house is a simple composition of rectilinear forms.  internally, this intersection allows for a strong connection between the separate parts of the house, with the joinery becoming a more complex sculptural composition of forms within the spaces.  the detail design of these joinery elements is integral to the successful use of the new house.

the manipulation of perception and views is explored through the use of a horizontal window in the en-suite bathroom that gives the bathroom an outlook through the bedroom to the garden beyond.  this simple device also allows more natural light into the otherwise internalised bathroom and makes the space feel much wider than the 1.5m it really is.

the design is one of a continuing series of explorations into sculpted architectural composition - an architectural composition inspired by constructivism, tempered by functional pragmatism and driven by a desire to question preconceived notions about function and form.