One of two semi-attached cottages built by the Sly brothers in the early 1900s, this historic home is deeply entwined in Manly’s and Australia’s Surf Lifesaving culture.
Joe and Eddie Sly were local fishermen who patrolled Manly and other local beaches in a whale boat looking out for swimmers in distress. From their humble, timber-clad cottages they would walk down the laneway to the beach, board their boat and set out to the surf, purely to save lives. Without realising it they started Surf Life Saving in Australia.
More than a century later, Australian lifestyles have evolved dramatically. As has Manly – physically and culturally. To restore the cottages’ place, presence and relevance in the local community, they also had to evolve, calling for transformative renovations.
Due to their significant heritage value, council recommended that upgrades to both cottages be undertaken as one project. So, with contrasting briefs and timelines, the two sets of homeowners agreed to work together with one Architect and one Builder to modernise the homes and incorporate expansive, flexible layouts, while preserving the cottages’ original features.
The result is two distinct homes aesthetically unified by their complementary, yet unique additions.
Evoking the memory of Manly’s past, sandstock bricks and reclaimed timber sit adjacent to contemporary clean-cut plywood and polished concrete, creating a new threshold – a line in the sand – delineating the cottages’ evolution into modern homes.
From the street front the additions are scarcely visible, hovering delicately over the cottages’ existing double gable ridgeline, with just a single strip of glazing hinting at a space within. The rear facade presents a stark contrast to the front in shape, scale and colour with clean, square lines and individual designs following the functions within.
At less than 200m2, every aspect of the site is optimised and every square metre creatively utilised within the home. By prioritising and refining key zones, generous proportions were possible. Light and height lend volume and a sense of calm to the space. Refined material palettes focus on texture, emphasising the character of the old, against the simplicity of the new.
Glazing has been utilised to its full potential. Strategic positioning of glass in the flooring, walls and ceiling adds insulation while allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the core of the living areas, creating comfortable spaces and reducing the need for lighting.
With a small footprint, double-glazed windows, insulated hydronic slab heating, smart home technology, recyclable cladding and a unique story to tell, the two cottages now cater for Manly’s modern homeowners.
This luxury home can equally accommodate executives, families, downsizers or holiday rentals, providing new options for the homeowner to maximise use, potential and return from their asset, well into the future.