Sanctuary House

An original Canberra cottage is reimagined into a contemporary, light filled sanctuary. Respecting the solid character of interwar houses, their established trees and the dappled streetscapes that make vintage neighbourhoods so identifiable as being “of Canberra”, the clients were prepared to undertake extensive restoration to ensure a gracious cottage frontage would remain instated for another century – at least.

The residence features a gallery-like linking corridor introduces entirely different volumes of scale, expanses of glazing, a robust yet refined materiality, and an almost sensually-immediate connection between house and garden.

With the design of the new additions including so many large and small courtyards, only two of the four bedrooms share a common wall. With the parent’s suite set right at the rear of the block, behind the long living room, each retreating space has gained a maximum of possible privacy.

The layout, the north-east orientation, the light and this remarkable sense of respite led to the project being named the Sanctuary House. Plantings, lawns, terraces and the old-school style backyard that has been deliberately uncluttered by pulling the pool’s cabana away from the additions. The home features an extensive northern aspect, now framed by walls of glass and complemented by striking off-formed concrete walls –  a house of both light and substance. The open central living area is a perfect space for cooking, dining, relaxing, teenagers’ homework and entertaining – surrounded by garden to the north and south. In summer the glass doors are open wide and the interior merges with garden . In winter sun floods the house. The wide polished concrete hallway, known as “the gallery” not only seamlessly links the historic and new components of the home but provides an ideal place to display artwork.  The parents and teenagers retreats provide compliment the large light-filled bedrooms and shared bathroom cleverly hidden off the main hallway. A heritage guest room complete the build with chic ensuite.

The restored heritage second living area, complete with fireplace, provides an outlook onto an internal courtyard and is yet another beautiful and cosy space for the family to gather.