a home for two musicians

Inviting life into a once-derelict Marrickville cottage, a complete renovation and new extension establishes living and rehearsal space for two musicians. A comfortable retreat set within a garden; original Federation interiors are restored in crisp white, whilst new elements are introduced in a restrained palette of dark timber, steel and porcelain. The conceptual starting point was contrasting tones of light and dark, knitting together old and new. This contextual relationship is expressed in the duality of its elements – at once both rustic and slick, thin yet massive, dark and bright.

The investment in traditional crafts and new industry is revealed in the chosen materials, celebrated for their natural variation over time: the roughness of aged recycled bricks is set against black metal sheet; a recessed wall reveals the recycled brick façade internally, whilst an oiled bronze finish gives subtle warmth to smooth, glossy surfaces in the bathroom. Careful detailing produces an interior of simple planes, clean lines and open spaces. This culminates in a 4.7m-wide folded steel sheet hovering over the deck; its glossy surface reflecting the garden, creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior.