Originally a dark and segmented townhouse with tired 1980s interiors, this Windsor residence has been transformed into a contemporary home that prioritises light, flow, and connection to its surroundings. Designed for a design-savvy couple in their mid-40s, the renovation responds to their desire for a home that fosters both intimate family life and stylish entertaining. The solution? A carefully considered interplay of structure, materiality, and spatial layering redefines compact urban living.
At the heart of the projectis a radical reconfiguration of the living areas. The ground floor, once a series of disjointed rooms, now unfolds as a single, fluid space that embraces the garden through floor-to-ceiling glazing. A central sliding door and a flush threshold create an uninterrupted transition from the kitchen and living area to the outdoor terrace, blurring the boundary between indoors and out. Timber elements—used in the ceiling, joinery, and garden fencing—reinforce this sense of continuity, offering a warm, tactile contrast to the raw concrete flooring.
Above, the striking“skin-box” addition, clad in translucent polycarbonate, houses the new bedrooms and ensuite. Floating above the original structure, this lightweight volume captures soft, ever-changing light, while carefully placed hooded windows frame tree-top views. The materiality of the skin-box is both functional and poetic:by filtering light and offering privacy, it creates a retreat-like atmosphere while enhancing the home’s thermal performance.
Crowning the project is a rooftop terrace, accessed via a concealed stair within the skin box. With its timber walls and polycarbonate balustrades, the space becomes an elevated sanctuary, offering panoramic city views while maintaining a sense of privacy.The addition not only maximises the compact site but also introduces a sculptural element to the streetscape, reinforcing the project’s architectural ambition.
This renovation is more thanjust an aesthetic exercise; it’s a testament to how considered design can amplify the spatial potential of even the most constrained sites. By embracing material innovation, minimising structural intervention, and prioritising environmental responsiveness, you see a home that is both deeply personal and strikingly contemporary—one that speaks to its owners' lifestyle while contributing meaningfully to the built environment.
Sustainability Considerations
From the outset, sustainability was a key driver of the project, with strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact while enhancing liveability. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the design retains much of the original structure, significantly reducing material waste and embodied carbon. Key interior elements such as bathrooms and laundry spaces were preserved, ensuring a balance between renovation and resource efficiency.
Through its thoughtful approach to retention, material selection, and passive environmental design, this project demonstrates that sustainability and architectural innovation can go hand in hand. It is a home that not only meets the needs of the present but also sets a benchmark for responsive,future-focused urban living.
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