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OR VIEW ALL PROJECTSOR GO BACK TO SEARCH RESULTSOR VIEW ALLPROJECTS BY ARCHITECT TOBIAS PARTNERSHOUSE PROJECTS2001 PROJECTSPROJECTS IN SYDNEYPROJECTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARRIN REES |
"Being architects and designers who both work in the inner-city, my partner, Nick Tobias (of Tobias Theodore), and I recently had the opportunity to assess exactly how we wanted to live: to have a go at expressing some, if not all, of the things that we love about beautiful, clever design. The purchase of a small terrace was the impetus for this long hard look at ourselves. "Our brief was both extensive, yet concise. In a tiny terrace, we wanted light, air, entertaining areas, open-plan living, storage, luxury, large, open inviting spaces, intimate spaces, outdoor spaces, a properly functioning utility area, an integrated 'smart home' lighting and wiring system, contemporary clean aesthetic... the list went on and on.
"Our intent, however, was to maintain simplicity in design and in life. We were not about creating a glamorous house. By glamour, I mean a house layered with luxury. Instead, the mantra of honesty, integrity and simplicity was a constant reference point throughout the design and construction. If a home is treated as a neutral canvas, then your lifestyle has the opportunity to play itself out upon it. And when it's a small space, it's important the building not compete with all the objects and needs of your everyday life. "Keeping things simple, the house is essentially two distinct structures -the original double storey terrace to the front and an entirely new addition to the rear. We see these as both opposites and omplementary. The entire ground floor is dedicated to living, with sleeping upstairs. The original front part of the house became a large lounge room which maintains the internal, static, intimate formality of the terrace vintage. High ceilings and lots of wall space for art, light, bookshelves and fireplaces all contribute to this character.
"The two major insertions are the reconstruction of the staircase in steel and timber, and a long concrete plinth that runs almost the full length of the room and acts as hearth, step, television/object shelf an seat. These bold gestures are then carried through into the new addition. In contrast to the front, every wall in this space becomes dynamic. Cupboards, laundry, kitchen, data and electrical base are all integrated into a storage and utility wall that is constantly in use and continues through to the outdoors. Opposite this, glazed louvres sit in over the space and are always active -providing fresh air, a reflection of the seasons, the climate and the people in the space; Glazed sliding doors open to create a through connection to the outdoors so essential to the 'Australian' way of life. The oversized steel beams and columns used in construction not only satisfy the need for truth in construction, but create a wonderful play in scale and spatial dynamics that always grab the attention.
"Essentially, however, the trick was not to play any. The architecture of the new building expresses structure, vintage and style in the most obvious of ways. 'Calling a spade a spade,' one might say. A limited palette of four basic finishes two types of timber, concrete and steel were used It could, in fact, be said this was a 'minimalist' approach, however what we aimed for was one that was far more about 'minimum', This does not necessarily have to exclude the basic truths of everyday life and its attachments and accessories, but rather enhances its essential qualities. "The testing ground for us has not been just living in the space and loving it, but the reactions of those who visit. They have always been positive and that is the greatest compliment."
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