A retrospective material palette and ample connection to the outdoors characterise this restored heritage home overlooking the
During its lifetime, this two-storey sandstone building in Sydney’s inner west has been an art school, a ballroom and, in recent years, a home. Local architecture and interior design studio
A New Era
A heritage home’s energy and charm are difficult to match; qualities that make them an appealing challenge for
In the case of Twin Peaks, Alwill have approached the redesign retrospectively, letting the past inform the present. The sandstone walls and timber joinery have been given a slight update, but otherwise remain the same, with the rest of the home’s material palette following suit. Reconfigurations of the home’s plan were kept to a minimum, with the main exception being the outdoor spaces. “The goal was to restore the building’s grandeur and overall zest for life,” director Nadine Alwill says. “To do this, we needed to exercise restraint and be sensitive to its past.”
The Outdoor Spaces
“The home had this big, beautiful garden and spectacular harbour views, yet, at times, it failed to make use of either. So we made it our mission to change that,” Nadine says. She goes on the say that reevaluating the outdoor spaces was what really allowed the heritage building to sing. Being a busy, social family, the clients wanted these spaces to promote fun, entertainment, and relaxation.
Sources of Inspiration
“The location and the site itself had a big part to play in inspiration for this project,” Nadine says. The blueprint for each room had ‘connection to the outdoors’ written in bold; even the attic, where the harbour bridge can be seen through a small window. As is the case with many heritage revivals, the home’s original material palette was another key source of inspiration. “We developed a strong admiration for the building’s history and sought to build on top of that.” And finally, the family themselves, who Nadine describes as “calm, fun and uplifting”, were a key driver in the planning and decision making. “At the end of the day, the home needed to be an authentic reflection of them.”
“Working within the heritage constraints of a building lends itself to challenges that can actually have really beautiful outcomes.”
– Nadine Alwill
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