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Project posted by Luigi Rosselli Architects

Twin Peaks

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Frank Sinatra in black and white strolls towards the grand piano.
Frank Sinatra in black and white strolls towards the grand piano.
Coco Chanel and Elizabeth Taylor bookend this bay window, and they could have sat comfortably together in this “Swedish Blue” nook.
Coco Chanel and Elizabeth Taylor bookend this bay window, and they could have sat comfortably together in this “Swedish Blue” nook.
Intertwining the old and the new the main theme of this renovation to achieve continuity and a coherent unison.
Intertwining the old and the new the main theme of this renovation to achieve continuity and a coherent unison.
Ribbed glass in steel doors lets the light into the kitchen pantry. The Carrara marble of the benchtop is a timeless material.
Ribbed glass in steel doors lets the light into the kitchen pantry. The Carrara marble of the benchtop is a timeless material.
The joyful interiors of Stephanie Conley have scoured the world for elegant furniture and artworks.
The joyful interiors of Stephanie Conley have scoured the world for elegant furniture and artworks.
The All Metal Products supplied fine steel windows. The challenge for the builder was to match the curve of the existing archway to the window frames, manufactured in Italy.
The All Metal Products supplied fine steel windows. The challenge for the builder was to match the curve of the existing archway to the window frames, manufactured in Italy.
Sydney Joinery installed the Cellar Rack wine storage system. Some red was added to this black and white colour scheme.
Sydney Joinery installed the Cellar Rack wine storage system. Some red was added to this black and white colour scheme.
Absorbing landings and changes of direction, the balustrade was carefully designed to provide a continuous flowing line.
Absorbing landings and changes of direction, the balustrade was carefully designed to provide a continuous flowing line.
Masterfully built by GNC Constructions, this stair is a “tour de force”.
Masterfully built by GNC Constructions, this stair is a “tour de force”.
Double Bay, with Point Piper on the opposite shore. On the right one can discern the Woollahra Council offices, the only council offices in Sydney to have its own beach.
Double Bay, with Point Piper on the opposite shore. On the right one can discern the Woollahra Council offices, the only council offices in Sydney to have its own beach.
Plain steel windows and steel reinforced eaves differentiate the more recent wing from the original Queen Anne house. Natural white and charcoal black colours are a neutral backdrop for Bougainvillea and the blue of Sydney Harbour.
Plain steel windows and steel reinforced eaves differentiate the more recent wing from the original Queen Anne house. Natural white and charcoal black colours are a neutral backdrop for Bougainvillea and the blue of Sydney Harbour.
A small archway leads to the laundry and cellar.
A small archway leads to the laundry and cellar.
This unusual window was inserted into the pre-existing shape of the gable and a generous attic room was reclaimed from the vast roof space.
This unusual window was inserted into the pre-existing shape of the gable and a generous attic room was reclaimed from the vast roof space.
Fred & Ginger pencil lines are dancing with the Double Bay backdrop. The stone floor is a dense Spanish sandstone.
Fred & Ginger pencil lines are dancing with the Double Bay backdrop. The stone floor is a dense Spanish sandstone.
The stair rises from the entry to the bedroom level and winds up to the attic. The simple black steel balustrade design was embellished to satisfy the required feminine touch.
The stair rises from the entry to the bedroom level and winds up to the attic. The simple black steel balustrade design was embellished to satisfy the required feminine touch.
Through this archway the stair pierces the old courtyard wall and enters the attic space.
Through this archway the stair pierces the old courtyard wall and enters the attic space.
The stair atrium was achieved by infilling a courtyard. The atrium links the lower ground floor living spaces to the first floor bedrooms and the attic level. Veiled behind the terracotta half pipe screens is the hallway running between the bedrooms.
The stair atrium was achieved by infilling a courtyard. The atrium links the lower ground floor living spaces to the first floor bedrooms and the attic level. Veiled behind the terracotta half pipe screens is the hallway running between the bedrooms.
A skylight reflects the elliptical shape of the central cut out of the stair. The terracotta screens have been constructed with off-the-shelf half pipe, stacked and painted, resulting in a fish scale pattern that is also present in the zinc garage door and gate cladding.
A skylight reflects the elliptical shape of the central cut out of the stair. The terracotta screens have been constructed with off-the-shelf half pipe, stacked and painted, resulting in a fish scale pattern that is also present in the zinc garage door and gate cladding.
On the opposite side, the house tumbles down on the steep topography. A 1980s wing has been transformed with fluid eaves and new balconies. The pre-existing 1970s swimming pool contributes to the eclectic architectural landscape.
On the opposite side, the house tumbles down on the steep topography. A 1980s wing has been transformed with fluid eaves and new balconies. The pre-existing 1970s swimming pool contributes to the eclectic architectural landscape.

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From Luigi Rosselli Architects

A Queen Anne style residence reveals its hidden character and history in the late night lights. Two crisp zinc roof gables, observing the shadows on the narrow footpath, guard the new entry door.

The early 1900s bricks, shingles and Elizabethan windows have been a theatre for three generations of the same family. They have a history to reveal that cannot be found in a new building.

Following a failed total rebuild design by a different architect, Luigi Rosselli Architects opted for a more subtle “tummy tuck” and clean up of the original house. Some of the 70s and 80s additions were removed, and the original house restored and enhanced. The only addition was of an infill of the front courtyard set between the two gables. This addition houses the new entry and stairwell, much more dignified than the old sunken and squeezed side entry porch. The old Queen Anne now has a new hearth, a three storey atrium with a Piranesi inspired stair winding and unwinding from the lower living room level to the upper attic. The stair is surrounded by the brick walls of what was once the courtyard, and the openings have been veiled by terracotta screens made of half round pipes, stacked in a fish scale pattern. The street entry is half way between the ground floor living level and the first bedroom floor.

Double Bay and Sydney Harbour are the backdrop to this venerable residence, being perched on a spectacular rock outcrop ensures that the bay is visible from all the windows. The new steel windows on the bay side of the house are shaded by a new balcony and roof structure with generous eaves and simple balustrades.

Will Dangar’s landscaping has introduced softness to a barren backyard with the creation of a terraced garden and the addition of an ancient olive tree and tall palms. Stephanie Conley’s flair for design has lent the interiors an elegant and cosmopolitan air, executed with meticulous attention to detail by Associate Architect, Simon Hassall.

This house is now set to become a durable residence for hopefully many more generations, and its twin peaks will keep observing the shadows on the narrow footpath.