Vermont Terrace

Commendation

Heritage Buildings / Adaptive Re-use

VERMONT TERRACE

Designer: Jason Klumpp

Practice: Studio 23 design Web: studio23design.com.au Photographer: Brigid Arnott

DESIGN

Located in one of Sydney’s most iconic heritage precincts, this terrace house originally built in the 1890’s has been restored and transformed into a contemporary family home. Nestled in Millers Point, with views of the harbour and the bridge, a unique piece of Sydney’s history. It was an intact and rare example of a pair of early Federation Queen Anne-style terrace dwellings.

Sitting proudly, the design unfolds to reveal a harmonious blend of old and new, celebrating the rich tapestry of the Millers Point history. The renovations and new elements are a contemporary, classic design keeping in tune with the existing heritage elements’ scale and proportions, with simple lines and uncluttered elegance. We immersed ourselves in the context of the area and the story of those who built here; drawing from the intricate proportions of the existing built forms, which fuelled the detailed solution for our clients. Our client’s brief was to manage the functional requirements of a modern family by adapting space, maintaining reverence to the heritage significance required a delicate balance. The reuse of materials, maintaining them onsite under heritage guidance, offered opportunities to reimagine them in useful, relevant forms. The decoration was carefully planned as the architectural and interior design developed. This was essential to create an inviting and spatially effective result.

The success of the project was largely due to the collaboration of not only the designers Studio Duo and Studio 23 Design, but also the whole team.