Ben’s House

This is the house where Ben lives, along with his rescue feline, Catty Freeman, who is very aptly named – she’s quick on her feet!

The newly renovated home is a handsome abode. It’s made up of a worker’s cottage and an extension. Before the renovation, the existing cottage was dark and uninviting. It had been extended decades before and didn’t connect well to outdoor spaces. Ben wanted a home that was modern and sophisticated, and more suited to his lifestyle.

Lauren Benson, project architect from Robeson Architects, says creating a living and entertaining area that connected to the garden was important.

“The site fell two metres from the front of the block to the rear laneway, so working with the levels to create a living and entertaining area which better connected to the garden was key to the brief,” she notes.

Robeson Architects worked alongside interior architect Nickolas Gurtler to create a truly one-of-a-kind abode. Unlike many modern renovations, this one didn’t add on bedrooms; rather, it reconfigured them, sometimes into other living spaces. A central lounge became a library and bar. The existing second bedroom was split in two, creating a small study, and a large guest bathroom with a bath.

Lauren says the first-floor extension sits above the open-plan living areas and acts like a glamorous hotel suite.

“Up the stairs, the ensuite vanity has been pulled out to the corridor to make the most of the natural light of the void, which allowed for a larger wet room and double shower in the ensuite,” she explains.

While the home is designed for one, it aptly caters for more, with light-filled living spaces and an outdoor entertaining area with a plunge pool, seating and a barbecue bench.

It was all systems go, then a last-minute obstacle, thrown at them by the bank, halted the project. Twelve months later, they were back in business.

“Our client had watched a lot of Grand Designs in his time and joked that his grand design being delayed a year was very in keeping with the show,” muses Lauren.

Another issue was ensuring northern light would have access to the home, given the small narrow lot and tight planning controls. This was cleverly addressed by a void that draws light into the length of the living spaces below.

Lauren says the inspiration for the project was drawn from Japanese architecture. “They’re experts at utilising split levels, voids and high ceilings to make small spaces feel big,” she reveals. Space certainly was at a premium. “We had to be very considered to ensure each area packed a punch, and the layout was highly efficient with no superfluous space,” says Lauren.

The extension is a simple rectangular box clad in black. The materials include black CFC, black bricks and a black permeable screen. “From the rear elevation we wanted something a bit sexy to complement the sleek and sophisticated interiors designed by Nickolas Gurtler,” says Lauren. The black screening also offers privacy from the four-storey apartment building that looks directly at the house. “At night the intent was for the first floor to act as a lantern and provide dappled light to the garden below,” says Lauren.

Her favourite part of the design centres on the place where the old and the new diverge. “The stone reveal is shorter and creates a feeling of compression, before one walks into a bright double-height space,” explains Lauren. Also popular with the architecture team is the bridge over the void that connects the bedroom to the ensuite. “On site we joked that it would be the perfect place for DJ decks when hosting a party.”

There were many memorable moments in the project, perhaps none so poignant as the video they received after the build was finalised. “On site we added in a last-minute cat flap below the stair. We loved receiving a video of the cat using it for the first time,” says Lauren. It sounds like Catty Freeman is also enchanted with her new digs.

Article featured in Grand Designs Australia Magazine 14.2