The Hurlstone Park Triangle came with a shape all its own - a right-angle triangle with its longest side facing the street. Under the NSW Housing Code, a wide frontage means significant front setbacks, which pushed the build further back than ideal on an already challenging geometry. Add in proximity to heritage items, large established trees and the upgraded Metro line immediately behind the property, and the brief required not just creativity, but precision.

The site originally held a 1920s two-bedroom California Bungalow. To meet the client’s bold vision while respecting the budget, we expanded the home through a new two-storey structure positioned to the west. This contemporary addition accommodates a luxurious master suite upstairs, with a light-filled living area below opening onto the western garden.

Within the original cottage, we reconfigured the layout to create three additional bedrooms, a dedicated dining space and a new kitchen that connects seamlessly to the northern garden and a newly tiled pool. The planning restores coherence to the old home while introducing fresh connections to outdoor living.

A deliberate break between the heritage cottage and the new volume preserves the integrity of both. The addition is wrapped in shou sugi ban timber, allowing it to sit quietly among the trees - reading as a dark, recessive form rather than competing with the original architecture.

Challenging sites often spark the smartest ideas, and this project is a clear example of how constraints can generate a richer, more thoughtful design outcome.