Party in the Back
A surprisingly modern addition transforms an 1880 bungalow in Adelaide, Australia, into a spacious and sensuous abode.
Looking at the traditional Victorian facade of Kylie Brammy and George Kyprianou’s home, you would never imagine it hid such a voluptuous and modern derrière. Physiotherapist Brammy and entrepreneur Kyprianou bought the North Adelaide house in 1999 because they loved its charm and location on the city fringe, close to parkland. Less desirable was its tiny kitchen, dark living spaces, and badly positioned toilet, just three feet from the dining table. Engaging both an architect and an interior designer to collaborate on a renovation and two-story extension, the couple managed to open up the interior and transform the back of the house into an improbably airy and light-filled retreat.
Brammy and Kyprianou hardly touched the front of their house, an 1880 sandstone and brick Victorian with galvanized iron ornamentation.
The rear of the original house was very dark, and functionally, the space just didn’t work. We love having friends and family over for dinner, but the tiny galley kitchen was only just big enough for two people to walk sideways past each other. There was only one bathroom—right next to the dinner table—so it was a bit uncomfortable when guests had to use it! We decided to open the whole rear of the house right up; it’s north facing, which here in Australia gives you beautiful sunshine all day long. We could see the potential in having a big, tall glass structure to let all the light and warmth in.
Around 2005 we approached Phil Harris from Troppo Architects, but they were too busy to take on a job with our modest budget. A couple of years later, we stayed in a Troppo-designed eco-resort in Broome; it had all the qualities we liked—sustainability, space, light, and ventilation. So Kylie called Phil again, and this time he agreed to come out and see us.
We bonded straight away. Unlike other architects we’d met, who came with their own set ideas, Phil sat down and asked us what we wanted. He came back with a little story he wrote about us—what we liked and who we were—so we were pretty chuffed. At that point we felt really comfortable with him, and he felt comfortable with us. We worked together really well.
Early on, Phil came up with the design that you see now. The original part of the house is only 20 feet wide, so we extended an additional three feet out to the boundary, which gave us room to put a light-filled guest bathroom and laundry in the middle of the original part of the house. The master bedroom floats on a mezzanine in the void above the living area, with a spacious en suite [bathroom] tucked behind it. To meet the local heritage requirements we had to mirror the roofline of our neighbors on the laneway side of the house, so the extension has a unique asymmetrical shape.
Brammy and Kyprianou hung Koura pendant lights by New Zealand designer David Trubridge above the dining area. Their organic forms and diamond-shaped shadows create intimacy in the vast space. Among Bilardo’s contributions were the black tulipwood cabinetry and ceiling and the cantilevered concrete countertop that appears to go through the glass wall.
We also hung on to some original features of the house, like the historic facade and the original chimney. Our builder did a great job keeping the existing chimney upright when the walls came down around it. We love its wonky shape.
Brammy: I sensed the soul of the house the moment I walked through the front door at the first inspection. It had a story to tell—of happy lives and families—and we are continuing that story. As a physiotherapist, I realize the importance of life balance and our home helps to give this to us. It is simple, open, and flexible, and it supports our casual lifestyle.
Sinks and a toilet from Laufen’s Il Bagno Alessi line add a sculptural presence to the master bathroom.
Soil space is limited on our lot so I grow my veggies “secretly” among the other landscaping plants. I’ve planted lemons and oranges, espaliered along the fence that extends out behind the barbecue. I love our pool—it provides a “yin” element of cooling, moistening, and grounding to the house, in contrast to the warm and dry materials we’ve used elsewhere. I can actually touch the water from inside through the sash window at the end of the bench seat, which gives me a sense of serenity. Being connected to the environment is important to me.
Every time of the day feels beautiful here. In the winter, I try to be home for a few hours midday to enjoy the sunshine that streams in below the giant eave. We positioned the window seat in the northeast corner of the window so that as the sun goes down it catches the last rays. I often read there. When I stop and am still, the dogs love it, lying down below me on the floor.
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The whole house is beautiful. But that pool.....WOW!!!!
Very rarely does one come across gorgeous backyards! I live in Zimbabwe and having visited Adelaide a few years ago in the middle of summer, I can testify to Adelaide being much hotter than Zimbabwe during the summer! I'm sure what works to kept the warmth in and heat out in Adelaide would do wonders in Zimbabwe!
Wow - I'd move to Adelaide to live in this house. Beautiful.
wow would have never expected this in my town
How much would renovations and design like that cost?! It is absolutely gorgeous though!
I agree with Amiee, that pool is awesome! House is great too.
there's a delightful sense of "Alice through the Looking Glass" ...or stepping through the Wardrobe into Narnia - with the astonishing sense of space and light in what appears from the street to be a traditional cottage. i lived in one years ago...light at front and rear but not a great deal in the middle. and that pool with [i imagine] the constantly changing reflections it would cast into the interior is brilliantly placed
Now I have to say this is not only a brilliant concept but VERY beautifully and sensitively and intelligently executed. It makes the new houses in Europe look very tired and bourgeois. Congratulations!
Very, very, very interesting house... Amazing concept, good execution... I like it all...including the pool! Beautiful!
I love it...It has awesome style, functionality, and looks like a real good time!
It's the stairs that do it for me. Wow.
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