A trusting relationship meant the Wilden Street project took five months to design and a year to build, with the builder’s personal investment as owners’ driving perfection. This ambitious project has seen the originally derelict pre-war Brisbane cottage transformed into a generous family home, which melds old and new to create a new narrative for contemporary living that pushes the boundaries of dimension.

Reinstating the original character of the cottage, the post-war additions were stripped back, leaving a sleep-out and four rooms as the base. The cottage was then raised to build a new entrance and garage underneath, in turn acquiring northeast-facing city views. Set in the inner-city suburb of Paddington, the narrow block has been transformed to make the most of the available land, while creating a level of privacy for the residents, which sees much of the modern wonderment shielded from street level.

Amongst the memorable additions is the exploration of chiselled forms – timber planes seamlessly meet aspects of the original cottage, weaving through the interior and becoming a statement at the rear with an upstairs three-dimensional facade that punctuates the end of the house. This viewfinder to the city contains the master suite inside, and provides cover for an outdoor living and dining space. The use of timber mixed with the monochrome paint palette results in a warm interior with no shortage of natural light filtering through the open space. The rear of the Wilden Street transformation connects the opening living interior with a flat backyard and pool, providing flow and a relaxed atmosphere to enhance the family’s lifestyle.

Image credit: Scott Burrows, Aperture Photography.