Lorn is a Heritage Conservation Area in Maitland NSW, protecting examples from an important historical era of Australian housing.

 

While the local council uphold strong heritage values, serving to retain the picturesque turn-of-the-century streetscapes, this hardline approach to heritage led to a very specific style of addition.

 

A long, narrow box extends into the backyard hidden from the streetscape, preserving the visual amenity of the surrounding neighbours. One of the many challenges of this addition was how to maintain the highly valued backyard and grass lawn for important play time, how to politely connect to the existing home, and avoid squashy ceiling heights.

 

The resulting linkway serves to compress and release the occupant and separate the old from the new, sleeping from living, passive from active.

 

Vertical Western Red cedar screw fixed cladding boards were finished with custom made flush matching timber rivet plugs by the client - a testament to the commitment to quality detail finishes from both client and architect.

 

Project Team: Prudence Bowe Architect

Town Planner: Plan Ink

Surveyor: Scott Crisp & Dilley

Heritage Architect: Carste Studio

Structural Engineer: CSG Engineers

Energy Audit: Prudence Bowe NatHERS Assessor

Builder: Owner Builder