Fireplaces

Butterfly Roofs Top a Sydney Terrace House

This contemporary reinterpretation of a 19th century Sydney terrace home takes full advantage of its narrow site. Architect Michelle Walker built the house up instead of out, restoring the second narrative, including two courtyards and constructing a new studio over the garage. New butterfly roofs top both structures, an inverted tribute to the surrounding roof pitches along with an alternative for the tight lot’s limited all-natural light.

Who lives here: Two and their two kids
Location: Paddington, Sydney, Australia
Size: 163 square meters (1,754 square feet); 3 bedrooms, two baths

Michelle Walker architects

The house’s location and narrow site directed its new appearance. “The design was about getting natural light, views to the skies and ventilation into the old home, while maintaining privacy,” says Walker.

Michelle Walker architects

Walker turned into the house’s old patio into the new main living area. A brand new courtyard just past the living area brings welcome light to the room, and additional flow between indoors and outdoors.

New and old flooring in the main portion of the home now mix seamlessly, due to a black blot.

Lighting: David Trubridge Coral pendant

Michelle Walker architects

A brand new galley-style kitchen next to the courtyard feels slick and contemporary with white Caesarstone counters and replica Verner Panton Flower Pot pendants.

Countertop: Caesarstone, Snow; toaster, range/hood: ILVE; sink: Franke; dishwasher: Miele

Michelle Walker architects

Splashes of orange run across the home. The owners love the bold colour and have a assortment of orange and 1970s furniture together with existing orange accents.

Michelle Walker architects

Across the way from the home living area, a brand new studio and office sits over the home’s garage. The couple had wanted a rooftop garden but couldn’t get it accepted by the Sydney City Council. Rather, Walker made use of this narrow site’s height and built a brand new studio and joint laundry over the garage.

Michelle Walker architects

Red orange slats in the courtyard’s surrounding fencing take the homeowners’ love of orange to the outdoors.

Michelle Walker architects

The butterfly roofs around the studio and chief home generated from Walker’s thought of this metropolitan site. Because most of the surrounding patio houses have roof pitches, Walker inverted the contour into contemporary butterfly roofs to give the home sun and light.

Walker enjoys the off-form concrete steps which lead off the studio. The lighted stairs twice as seating in the courtyard.

Michelle Walker architects

Cool, dark exterior colors contrast with the hot orange accents. Walker chose gray and blue stone, paint and polished concrete to tone down the occasional glowing hues.

Michelle Walker architects

The house’s second-story bedrooms have a crystal clear view of this studio. The customers love that the butterfly roofs on both structures bring in sunshine, light and views to the skies whilst offering complete privacy from the neighbors and street.

Michelle Walker architects

The front of the home remains relatively conventional, apart from its new colour palette. Walker uncovered first sandstone flagging at the front porch under layers of tile. After eliminating the tile and cleaning the sandstone, the porch is back to its original state.

Front door shade: Dulux, Nastrucian Flower; outside shade: Dcaeasulux, Shale Grey

Michelle Walker architects

The back, with its own garage facing the rear lane, has a clean and contemporary appearance; the same colour palette ties the whole home together.

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