R&L House was a traditional Manly beachside cottage: cute but cramped. To meet the needs of a growing family and fully capitalise on its hillside setting, it needed a serious rethink.
First off, an old, low-ceilinged extension was removed, making way for an airy, light-filled addition containing a lounge room and extra bedroom/ work space.
Raising the roofline at the back of the house opened up a previously unseen vista of peaceful, green views out to the garden, producing a capacious, verdant outlook that soothes the soul as much as the eye.
A second storey provides much-needed space along with sweeping district views through large, north-west facing windows in the parents’ retreat. Skylights and an abundance of double-glazed windows, allow natural light to penetrate throughout the home, while organic materials and a wood-burning fireplace add warmth and texture.
Taken together, the effect is transformative. With a throughline from the front door to the dramatic floor-to-raked-ceiling wall of glass and stone at the back of the house, this concept upends and extends expectations of a beachside cottage – reconceiving it as an elegant, expansive home.
Preserving the original façade and complementing it with a sympathetic upper-level addition, maintained the home’s traditional character at street level. But once inside, the eye is drawn magnetically to the rear of the house where glazing on three sides of the living area forms a contemporary cathedral of light. A stone feature wall behind the free-standing fireplace and exposed beams complete the aesthetic journey from beachside chic to sleek modernism.
The home’s beauty is matched by its functionality. Passive solar design and natural ventilation ensure a comfortable indoor environment year round with low running costs. Deep eaves protect it from heat and glare while also directing rainwater away from walls and windows to help prevent structural damage.
Optimising aspect, orientation and physical setting, this design far exceeds the clients’ brief to provide additional space and amenity for their growing family.
A once dark and low-slung home is now a generously proportioned, light-filled sanctuary. The design not only adds more space to the dwelling, it recharacterises the space, infusing it with a sense of volume and grace.
Archisoul is extremely proud of this design and the clients could not be happier with the result: a stunning, fit-for-purpose family home that will bring them joy for decades to come.
Project Team
Director – Jo Gillies
Project Lead – Russell Rice
Builder – Mobuild Constructions
Photography – Mark Syke