Black House

Abbotsford, Sydney

The existing site, located in the Inner West of Sydney, contained a post war period home which had limited, if no redeeming factors and significantly underperformed for the living needs of the clients growing family. It was decided to remove the old structure and undertake a new build with the possibility of recycling the existing bricks from the old house and integrate them into the new. The planning approval was sought through a Complying Development Certificate, commonly known as a CDC, which allowed certain design freedoms and directions within a defined set of legislative regulations. We designed the new house around an existing pool which underwent some modification during the build to assist the visual connection and relationship to the new family home. The palate of finishes is raw, industrial and tactile with use of steel, timber concrete and recycled brick which exemplified the contemporary design. Light and ventilation were important factors of the design as well as connectivity between spaces and the relationship of the inside and outside. Our involvement in the project included not only the architecture as seen from the exterior though we were also instrumental in the assimilation of the interior finishes. Every effort was taken to maximise on all available space and capitalise on every available opportunity which was done successfully and advocated by our happy clients.

Deliverables:

• Design a bespoke solution to suit a young family who love to entertain in a casual setting;
• Contemporary industrial design with elements including steel, timber, recycled bricks and concrete;
• Open plan with a continuous indoor outdoor flow;
• Maximise natural light;
• Maximise usable space and storage options;
• Site and construction management;
• Navigate Complying Development regulations and compliance.

Project completed by Enter Building Group.

Photography by Luc Remond.