Houzz Tour: A Light and contemporary renovation in Sydney

Houzz Tour: A Light and contemporary renovation in Sydney - Walls are a room, but the house in Bondi Beach Sydney shows how clear and framed views define a space.

When the architect Matt Fearns of Fearns Studio was faced with a lack of privacy and natural light in a narrow Victorian house, he resolved the problems by limiting most of natural light sources ceilings .

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A young man who shares his home with friends and flatmates
Location Bondi beach, Sydney
renovation Year 2012; originally built in 180

Photography by Tom Ferguson

Fearns Studio

The house was built in 180 and numerous renovations have been made over the years. It is a house in a row of four. As it is on a 20ft-wide field, it was obvious that privacy - both the owner and the neighbors -. Was a major issue

The rear deck here, projects off the master bedroom.

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Fearns studio

Fearns resolved privacy by design of the house as a tube. "The purpose of the idea of the tube was simply running a view of the house, away from neighboring properties by placing openings only at the ends, he said. "I wanted to leave them largely elevations clear side window to declutter and eliminate impacts giving.

Although it was initially a contemporary renovation, the house shows its age through subtle details like the arcade and baseboards.

Fearns has sunlight in the central areas of the first floor with multiple skylights. Natural light draws you to the illuminated areas.

Fearns Studio

In the kitchen -dining room, vacuum (as Fearns called) brings light down the roof to the ground floor. The skylight is about the size of a queen bed and is at the heart of the design of the house. In addition to illuminate the space, light creates porous borders that define the space to eat in the open floor plan.

More skylights

Fearns Studio

vintage dining chairs by Australian sculptor Clement Meadmore American and a dining table vintage Alessandro Albrizzi disrupt the otherwise linear language of the kitchen.

Fearns Studio

the dining room connects to the kitchen - the heart of the house, as Fearns calls. 'It is situated between the living areas and dining room to be a hub for both, he said. Although oversized and solidly built, the island of Tasmania and oak cabinets living room, rather than dominate it. Fearns detail the cooking characteristics to "look like articles sitting in space, rather than the elements of the space was built around.

S Smithfield Light, Flos. wire bar stools, vintage Clement Meadmore.

Fearns studio

the kitchen is the living room. It can be difficult to create intimate spaces in open plans, but Fearns used various techniques to bring the house down to human scale. "In this case, the rhythm of solids and voids [walls and glazing] mainly contributes to a sense of small spaces in open plan," he says. The walls and the door frame various areas of the hall, which suggests how to provide and lay on space.

The materials and finishes developed as the project progressed. "The palette at the end was limited and simple, consisting mainly of clear sealed hardwood doors, windows, flooring and carpentry - almost all the Tasmanian oak with some blackbutt said Fearns. Polished concrete floors connect all spaces in the great room.

See more polished concrete

Fearns studio

deep door frames capture moments like exterior paints. Light and shadow animates the bare walls.

Fearns Studio

The level of soil is divided into different areas that can be opened or closed off to maximize the flow, while still retaining strong visual connections between spaces. "When the doors are open, the rear of the site effectively can be a single open space - but modulated by various smaller areas within it, said Fearns. A skylight runs more sunlight in the living room.

Coffee tables, believed Paul Kafka. S OFA Jetset Lounge, Very Tidy. Carpet Turkish kilim.

Fearns Studio

A garage and guest house mezzanine are nestled in the back of the lot. Tasmanian oak doors slide open, connecting the garage, the landscape and the main house seamlessly. The same polished concrete floors used in the main house are still in the garage.

Fearns Studio

Fearns studio

sliding doors in the master lounge are in hardwood, with working capital equipment and low-energy windows. "The shows are about 2 ½F t deep on the side elevation, because the doors are mounted on the outside," said Fearns.

Fearns studio

A platform narrow shape runs much of the length of the house.

Fearns studio

small rooms the first floor open onto the deck, including the bathroom. The sliding glass door provides natural light and an external connection. (This part of the road is closed and private.)

Sink, Duravit. freestanding bath, quartz Villeroy & Boch. Wall tiles, polished basalt.

Fearns Studio

the master bedroom and bathroom are upstairs.

Fearns studio

contrary to the bathroom on the first floor, the master bathroom could not have a glass sliding door to connect to the outside. I did not want a window there to keep the bright side, so I convinced the owner to have a trap door, said Fearns. After trying various mechanisms, they ended up with a heavy spring floor pivot which functions as a friction hinge.

with natural light from the window, pivot window is not necessary, but Fearns discovered her other charms. "In the bathroom, it also manages to frame a very small view of the mature plantation on the way back, so it is a pleasant space to use, he said. It also adds a sense of quirkiness to the side elevation. People have to look twice to understand what it does. "

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