A suburban cottage located in Balmain, Sydney, Australia, was recently transformed into an exemplary architectural display of contemporary lines merging with the existing structure. Australian studio Innovarchi created the extension to this small cottage by taking into account traditional and modern design lines. Inspired by hipped roofs, the addition proved to be the perfect solution for extending the interior spaces without loosing the strong connection with the outdoors. The compartmentalized front part of the cottage features the private quarters, while the backside displays an informal, relaxed collection of seamlessly connected social spaces.
Accessible through a central hallway leading to the back of the house, the fascinating cottage protects the owner’s privacy, opening only to the garden side. The extension’s scale is reduced towards the back side, creating a beautiful folding shape that offers shade and helps the entire structure capture passive heat during the winter. Pierced by skylights and increasing the rainwater harvesting capacity, the roof composes an intriguing detail-oriented indoor-outdoor relationship. With a part-covered deck opening to the garden, this extension fabricates a new life for the old cottage and a promising lifestyle for the owners.
