HIDDEN GARDEN HOUSE

Behind a high brick wall, a remnant of previous stables, and through a secluded courtyard, lies a staircase to a hidden rooftop garden.

The garden oasis sits atop a dramatic curved concrete ceiling to the living areas below. The garden provides privacy and a delightful outlook for the main bedroom and ensuite, allowing the owners to sleep and bathe amidst the plants.

Sam Crawford Architects (SCA) has transformed a free-standing double-fronted split-level 1980s terrace in urban Sydney, and opened it up to the rear north-facing yard, embracing the sky and drawing light deep into the centre of the home.

The client’s brief was to take the existing house, which had great bones but dark internal rooms, and re-configure it to be a contemporary light-filled series of spaces, passively heated and cooled. The house is in a heritage conservation zone so SCA needed to develop a contemporary language that sits comfortably within the context.

On entering through a central front door, an inviting, open, white steel-framed stair leads up and down, giving glimpses to the roof garden above and to the living areas below. It replaces a solid timber stair that blocked light. An enlarged skylight above illuminates the centre of the house and enlarges the sense of space.  

In the downstairs living area the new curved concrete ceiling sweeps upwards to allow in winter sun and provide summer shade. It draws the eye up and out, expanding the new space into the surrounding area, opening up expansive sky and district views. A four and half metre-high wall of glass maximises the connection with the sun-drenched courtyard garden and north orientation, its clerestory windows allowing natural ventilation.

The concrete ceiling forms the sloped roof garden and open terrace to the main bedroom above. An existing ensuite was raised and moved forward to sit within the new roof garden. The owners can bathe amidst the plants in complete privacy with vistas, thanks to the angled timber screens and plantings.

Entries to the lower level laundry and bathroom, originally off the living areas, were relocated to the new stairwell wall. Natural light is brought into these spaces through sculptural skylights, made possible by the changed ceiling heights.

Restrained and earthy materials and palette flow throughout the home, exuding a sense of calm. Pale eucalyptus-green square tiles in a mix and match of matt and gloss together with spotted gum joinery appear in the kitchen and also bathrooms. Limestone floor pavers continue from the living space into the back garden, extending the entertainment areas. Curvilinear geometry reappears in the kitchen island and splash back, bathroom vanities, cupboards and door handles, and shower recesses. Clever storage is embedded throughout.

The clients wanted to live without air conditioning. SCA carefully calibrated solar control and high-level cross ventilation, with new double glazing and insulation, to minimise additional heating and cooling requirements. The hydronic underfloor heating system is only used occasionally and, thanks to the solar system and battery, their power consumption is greatly reduced.

With its big sky views, secluded garden oasis, passive solar and ventilation, and light-filled interiors, Hidden Garden House is “a peaceful sanctuary to come home to,” say the clients. With new, open views, they love being able to track a flock of birds across the sky.