From a forgotten heritage shell to a light-filled residential triumph.
THE CHALLENGE
Inherited following a previous permit failure, the site presented a complex trifecta of constraints: a sensitive Heritage Overlay, significant neighbor objections, and a Revivalist-style shell with limited natural light. The project required a total recalibration of the residential yield to satisfy both the Council’s density requirements and the community’s preservation concerns.
THE INTERVENTION
We implemented a strategic ‘Box-within-a-Box’ philosophy. By inserting modern mezzanines into the existing cathedral volume, we maximized footprint without compromising the original timber ceilings. New skylights were carved into the non-heritage roof planes, while a series of modern additions to the front and rear provided distinct, private entries for three separate dwellings.
1
HERITAGE OVERLAY
Spec: Restoration of early 20th-century Revivalist brickwork using traditional lime-mortar.
Outcome: Successful negotiation of new structural openings within a protected heritage shell.
2
THERMAL MASS & VOLUME
Spec: Strategic insertion of a modern mezzanine “core” to increase residential yield.
Outcome: Utilized existing cathedral heights for passive air circulation and enhanced thermal regulation.
3
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Spec: Re-drafting of site-line diagrams to satisfy Council density requirements.
Outcome: Secured residential approval for three distinct dwellings following a previous permit failure.
