Purchased in the period following Covid, the house had fallen into disrepair but retained strong original features and street presence. Rather than replace these elements, the design focused on careful restoration and upgrade, including the rebuilding of original window awnings and the introduction of high-performance glazing matched to the existing proportions and detailing. Comprehensive insulation upgrades to the floor, walls and roof significantly improved comfort and performance, while a new galvanised roof was introduced for durability and longevity.

A modest lean-to at the rear was removed and replaced with a single-storey addition, positioned at the natural threshold between old and new. The extension accommodates kitchen, dining and living spaces alongside supporting amenities, opening the home directly to the garden beyond. A subtle two-step descent allows the house to respond to the site’s gentle fall, grounding the new work and strengthening the indoor–outdoor connection.

Living spaces extend to an alfresco deck framed by a pergola and anchored by a brick seat, with a concrete step marking the transition to the garden - a small but meaningful gesture imagined by the clients as a place to sit in the sun while watching their children play among the established fruit trees. Over time, the garden will continue to evolve with additional native planting and a tucked-away sauna conceived as a quiet retreat.

Set within a heritage overlay, neighbourhood character guided the project throughout. From the street, the original house remains largely unchanged, with the addition recessive and visually absorbed. Internally, private rooms are retained within the existing house, while communal spaces open up toward the rear. Carefully oriented openings, skylights and thermal mass bring light, warmth and privacy, while a restrained palette of brick, timber, terracotta and green tiles establishes a tactile, enduring material language.

Shaped by patience, collaboration and restraint, Fowler respects its past while supporting the realities of contemporary family life - a durable, timeless backdrop for everyday living.

‍

‍