The transformation of ‘Orama’, a gracious Victorian villa in Sydney’s Woollahra, involved the renovation and extension of an historic house. Our brief was to enhance and expand the building to create a comfortable family home, and make a setting for the client’s Australian art collection. This project has two distinct halves, requiring distinct yet complementary approaches: the renovation of the original parts, and the construction of a new concrete and glass pavilion beyond.
Expand ContentThe new wing matches the grace and substance of the original house, but in a modern way. Where the old building is rich in detail, the new is bold and simple. The striking double-height concrete walls, when animated by sunlight, furnish the rooms with little need of embellishment. The concrete walls and floors extend out into the garden, making the landscape seem part of the decor. The materials palette of concrete, glass, dark steel, and zinc beautifully complements the chic black-and-white scheme applied to the old house.
The renovation of the villa responds to its key architectural features. Luxurious in space and detail, the design concept updated the rooms with contemporary fittings and fixtures. Beautiful original elements notably fireplaces and early paint schemes were retained. Deft modern interventions into the old fabric – joinery and lighting – make the house refined and functional. We worked closely with the artisans who built the components of the project in which its beauty lies.
Complementing the existing house, the new addition was designed to be minimal in form and detail, with textured raw concrete extending from the walls out into the garden, punctuated by water (the pool), vegetation, lawn, and pebbles.
A striking double-height living room forms the nucleus of the extension. Six-metre sliding doors on the northern side flood the room with light, overcoming the limitations of the south-facing site. The space of the living room flows into a stainless steel kitchen, and into the garden and swimming pool beyond. Upstairs, a guest bedroom and chic bathroom occupy the glassy link between the old and new parts of the house.
Environmentally-sensitive elements were stitched into the old and new parts of the house, including hydronic floor heating and cooling, natural cross ventilation and an avoidance of air-conditioning, exploitation of good solar orientation, thermally massive construction, and heat-exchange technology.
The transformation of Orama was a welcome opportunity to work once again with the family for whom Smart Design Studio renovated ‘Mandolong House’ on the lower north shore.
2015 Winner AIA National Architecture Award Residential Houses Alts & Ads
2015 Winner AIA NSW Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award Residential Arch. Alts & Ads
2015 Winner Woollahra Design Excellence Awards Heritage
2015 Winner Australian Interior Design Awards National Residential Design
2015 Winner Australian Interior Design Awards Best of State Residential Design
2015 Winner Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards Best Bathroom Design
2015 Commendation IDEA Awards Residential Single
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