The Contemporary Redesign Of A 1950s House In Sydney

April 10, 2017

Luigi Rosselli Architects have recently completed the renovation of a 1950s row house in Sydney, Australia, for a film director and his young family.

Almost three quarters of the original structure was demolished and replaced, with an additional storey added. At the front of the home, CNC cut steel plates in a fish scale pattern feature on the front gate and the Juliet balcony balustrade.

At the front of this renovated house, CNC cut steel plates in a fish scale pattern feature on the front gate and the Juliet balcony balustrade.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Stepping through to the front terrace, there’s a bright pink bougainvillea, and when it blooms it adds a bright pop of color to the white and black house.

Stepping through to the front terrace of this modern house, there's a bright pink bougainvillea, and when it blooms it adds a bright pop of color to the white and black house.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Apart from the front terrace, the home also has an internal courtyard at the rear of the home, accessed through the main floor. From this angle you can see further fish scale elements.

This modern row house an internal courtyard at the rear of the home accessed through the main floor. A built-in bench provides seating for an outdoor dining table.

Photography © Justin Alexander

At the end of the courtyard is the garage that’s been rebuilt. An attic was built over the garage to house a home office.

This renovated garage has a home office built into the attic. Black framed window let natural light into the garage and home office.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Here’s a glimpse of the home office that has walls lined in limed hoop pine boards with a matching bookshelf and flooring.

This modern home office that sits above a garage has walls lined in limed hoop pine boards with a matching bookshelf and flooring.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Back in the courtyard, there’s a built-in fireplace that sits at the end of the built-in concrete bench.

This modern courtyard has a built-in fireplace that sits at the end of a built-in concrete bench.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Heading back inside the home, there’s the living room, where the concrete bench from the courtyard carries on inside and becomes a floating shelf in the living room.

The living room in this modern house has the concrete bench from the courtyard flowing through to the interior where it becomes a floating shelf in the living room.

Photography © Justin Alexander

The living room sits slightly higher than the kitchen, with the kitchen island straddling across both levels. In the kitchen, Carrara marble has been used for the countertop, and hardware free white and wood kitchen cabinets keep the space streamlined.

The living room in this modern house sits slightly higher than the kitchen, with the kitchen island straddling across both levels. In the kitchen, Carrara marble has been used for the countertop, and hardware free white and wood kitchen cabinets keep the space streamlined.

Photography © Justin Alexander (top image) and © Sean Johnson (bottom image)

On the other side of the kitchen is a dining area, with a built-in banquette bench, inspired by Eileen Grey and her Bibendum Chair.

This dining area has a built-in banquette bench, inspired by Eileen Grey and her Bibendum Chair.

Photography © Justin Alexander

Opposite the kitchen and under the stairs is a hidden powder room with an arched door.

In this modern house, there's a hidden powder room with an arched door located under the stairs.

Photography © Justin Alexander

The stairs leading to the upper floors of the home have a brass finish balustrade with the fish scale pattern, providing an artistic feature that also meets the building code. The ceiling is also slightly artistic, in that it has been sculpted to negotiate the split level and allows for a light well over the living room.

The stairs leading to the upper floors of this modern house have a brass finish balustrade with the fish scale pattern, providing an artistic feature that also meets the building code. The ceiling is also slightly artistic, in that it has been sculpted to negotiate the split level and allows for a light well over the living room.

Photography © Justin Alexander

On the second floor of the home are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a study. This bedroom has tall French doors that open inwards, allowing for fresh air and plenty of light to fill the room.

On the second floor of this modern house is a bedroom with tall French doors that open inwards, allowing for fresh air and plenty of light to fill the room.

Photography © Justin Alexander

The top floor of the home is where the master bedroom and bathroom is located. The master bedroom features black framed windows that can be opened, while deep eaves provide protection from the sun.

This master bedroom features black framed windows that can be opened, while deep eaves provide protection from the sun.

Photography © Justin Alexander

In the master ensuite bathroom, tall vertical mirrors let in the light from the window, while in the shower, a skylight lets you stare at the sky as you shower.

In this master ensuite bathroom, tall vertical mirrors let in the light from the window, while in the grey tiled shower, a skylight lets you stare at the sky as you shower.

Photography © Justin Alexander