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Projects  /  Residential  /  Roseville

Roseville Outdoor Living & Pool Pavilion

An early 1920s post-Federation cottage in Roseville, in reasonably good condition when we first saw it. But as with so many homes of its era, the outdoor living spaces were largely an afterthought, and the living areas didn’t connect in any meaningful way to the garden.

Our clients wanted a swimming pool, an outdoor living space, and a studio and gym at the rear of the site – one that older kids could eventually use as a private pad, and guests visiting from overseas could stay in. With a young family, they also wanted room to play: a cricket pitch, or a rugby field.

One complication shaped everything. A major Sydney Water asset runs diagonally through the rear garden, imposing its own geometry on what we could build. Rather than fight it, we canted the new work off it, setting everything parallel to the asset, and that opened up some interesting geometry and some interesting spaces. The design includes:

  • A large, connected rear living area with skylights and a flat roof – a modern intervention that still lets the heritage roof forms be seen
  • A barbecue and low masonry seating, for casual seating inside and out
  • Painted brickwork to match the home, and sandstone to reinforce its heritage features
  • A good-sized pool, integrated with the landscape, paths and garden
  • A low-roofed studio and gym, now a much-loved family gym and study
  • A lawn kept for cricket and rugby, with soft landscaping to hide and anchor the new buildings

The kitchen was already in the right place, but isolated from the garden. Opening up the rear of the house connected it to the new outdoor living spaces.

The DA was approved by council exactly as submitted, with no amendments and no neighbour objections. Designing to that outcome is an intentional part of our process wherever possible. The approval also included an upper floor addition that the client chose not to proceed with – retaining that flexibility had been part of the brief from the outset.

In 2025 our clients needed a quick sale to take up another opportunity, and the quality of the renovation made it possible: the house sold off-market in three days. They have since moved on to another project we’ve worked on together.

LocationRoseville
TypeResidential
Photos8
SheetPRJ-02
A view from the pool across to the outdoor living space, with the studio to the right. Low, flat-roofed modernist forms still let the heritage roof forms be easily seen.
Fig. 01 A view from the pool across to the outdoor living space, with the studio to the right. Low, flat-roofed modernist forms still let the heritage roof forms be easily seen.
Landscaping helps soften the new roofs and buildings, and a dark roof profile visually lowers them and anchors them to the ground. The garden is now a quiet oasis.
Fig. 02 Landscaping helps soften the new roofs and buildings, and a dark roof profile visually lowers them and anchors them to the ground. The garden is now a quiet oasis.
01
Photos
The originally modest early 1920s heritage cottage, with integrated landscaping – sandstone steps and retaining walls – connecting through to the garden at the rear.
Fig. 03 The originally modest early 1920s heritage cottage, with integrated landscaping – sandstone steps and retaining walls – connecting through to the garden at the rear.
The kitchen now looks out towards the main entertaining spaces at the rear of the house, creating a positive energy around the living areas inside as well.
Fig. 04 The kitchen now looks out towards the main entertaining spaces at the rear of the house, creating a positive energy around the living areas inside as well.
A view out towards the main home from the gym and studio, showing the variety of spaces and uses the family have found for this much-loved building.
Fig. 05 A view out towards the main home from the gym and studio, showing the variety of spaces and uses the family have found for this much-loved building.
Skylights, timber decking and low sandstone wall seating make room for intimate family dinners, and for much larger gatherings with seating for everyone.
Fig. 06 Skylights, timber decking and low sandstone wall seating make room for intimate family dinners, and for much larger gatherings with seating for everyone.
Another view from the outdoor entertaining space, showing the barbecue with integrated fridges. The family has a good view over the pool, both as a calming water feature and for keeping an eye on small children swimming.
Fig. 07 Another view from the outdoor entertaining space, showing the barbecue with integrated fridges. The family has a good view over the pool, both as a calming water feature and for keeping an eye on small children swimming.
The brief included a cricket pitch and rugby field for the family, so we kept a very useful piece of lawn. Perimeter hedging softens the fence lines, and integrated planting beds soften the buildings.
Fig. 08 The brief included a cricket pitch and rugby field for the family, so we kept a very useful piece of lawn. Perimeter hedging softens the fence lines, and integrated planting beds soften the buildings.
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