Unfurled House

Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography

Unfurled House

Christopher Polly Architect

PHOTOS
Brett Boardman Photography , Christopher Polly Architect

STATUS
Built

AREA
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Sydney, Australia

TYPE
Residential › Private House

An articulated two-storey framed volume is sensitively stitched to the rear original fabric, while retaining its front Federation masonry and hipped envelope as part of its environmental, economic and planning values.

It has a sectional split-level relationship to the original house that harnesses the fall of the site to the rear, enabling the cellular front plan to vertically and horizontally unfurl into a series of connected interior spaces that expand to its setting.

Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography

The built form and its program resolution respond to its immediate setting and the established conditions of the original dwelling.

The two-storey volume mediates the scale and massing of its larger and smaller neighbours, with the existing southern setback extrapolated to the extent of a former rear wall and rear setback of its southern neighbour to mitigate adjacent impacts.

An intermediary form folds from the underside of the reinstated rear edge of the old dwelling to meet the two-storey volume, serving as a nexus for utility spaces, circulation and a northern courtyard at the centre of the plan.

Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography

Projecting ‘wedges’ at the rear further unfurl the envelope to provide ground floor storage on the terrace, a daybed nook within the ‘public’ living space, and a private reading space within the upper bedroom, for strengthened connections to its external environment.

Sustainability, cost and planning values entailed in retaining the original fabric are augmented by a modestly sized footprint and lightweight-framed envelope in a crafted ‘new build’ enabled at the rear.

Fenestration placement allows expansive enjoyment of outdoor spaces, harnesses natural light and promotes passive ventilation.

Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography

Projecting hoods and external blinds temper solar penetration, and acoustic attenuation measures for alternative air ventilation, insulation and internal linings assist the performance of the envelope in ameliorating latent aircraft noise.

A central vaulted ceiling allows a volumetric expansiveness over a rigorously organised core and circulation zone, and surrendered floor area enables generously carved voids flanking an upper bridge for diverse views to sky, trees, and outdoor spaces, while encouraging a spatial interplay of public, semi-private and private rooms.

Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography


Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography


Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography


Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography
Unfurled House
© Brett Boardman Photography


Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect
Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect
Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect
Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect
Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect
Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect


Unfurled House
© Christopher Polly Architect