Black Pivot Doors Frame Views of This Australian Home’s Verdant Garden

With seamless transitions to the outside and a spacious open floor plan, this renovated house gets some airy upgrades.

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In Luis Gomez-Siu’s renovation of this semi-detached house in Vaucluse, Australia, the Sydney-based architect aimed to fulfill his client’s desire for a strong indoor/outdoor connection. With the addition of an easily accessible garden comprised of lush greenery, Gomez-Siu’s plan delivered on that promise.

On the key to his design the architect shares: "by demolishing the existing flat ceiling and opening up the rear facade of the house [with] pivot doors" the design offered framed views of the home’s new landscaped garden, and also inspired the project’s name: Framed House. What’s more, these two interventions presented the open-plan interior with higher ceilings, a greater sense of spaciousness, and a breezy transition to the outside.

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While working on the project, Gomez-Siu kept environmental considerations in mind by "minimizing waste where possible," he explains. Although the gardens replaced an expansive pool, the structure was retained on-site, being buried beneath the new lawn. The pool was also filled with "additional site demolition waste, which contributed to minimizing landfill off-site," Gomez-Siu notes.

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Another highlight of the home is the updated ground floor bathroom, which was converted from a bedroom. The space retains traditional details— as the client requested—yet is revived by delicate porcelain tiles and new custom finishes.