When Sydney studio Carter Williamson was approached to revisit an old renovation from more than 15 years ago, it sparked a conversation about longevity.
The clients, Matthew and Georgina, had lived in the Balmain workers’ cottage for more than two decades, and the earlier update introduced a dramatic contemporary addition at the rear, cleverly hidden behind the 1860s facade. It was especially distinctive thanks to the brise soleil made up of operable marble blades that filter, or deflect, light into the living spaces depending on the season.
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According to Carter Williamson principal Shaun Carter, the house became deeply embedded in their daily life and in their connection to the neighbourhood over time. When their needs began to change, particularly around accessibility, they considered how the house itself could evolve with them.
The project was less about addressing any architectural failures — with Shaun Carter noting how well the house’s original concept had endured — and more about accommodating Matthew and Georgina’s next phase of life. They needed to make circulation paths more generous and accessible.
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The challenge was how to make those adjustments while preserving the qualities that made the house special in the first place, Shaun Carter adds. While most of the existing structure remained intact, a new lift was strategically inserted within the internal courtyard to ensure consistent access to the upper level. This led to a broader redesign of the living areas on the ground floor, where the kitchen was repositioned for ease and hallways were widened.
A slightly more ‘mature’ material palette helped usher the house into a new era. In a departure from the first renovation’s modern aesthetic, this latest iteration introduced warmer timber joinery throughout, while tactile light fittings add softness to the refreshed interiors. However, it was equally important to maintain the home’s familiarity.
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They retained the concrete floors, marble blades for passive performance, and show-stopping double-height voids that draw light deep into the plan. Shaun Carter says, ‘What I’m most proud of is that the house still feels like itself.’ The clients often talk about how the changes have made daily life much easier, but emotionally it still feels like the home they’ve known for many years.
The changes have had a profound impact because they’ve allowed the clients to remain connected to their home, their community and their routines. Good buildings continue to evolve alongside the people who inhabit them, Shaun Carter emphasizes. It still feels like home.
