The Tusculum Street Residence project is a renovation and extension of a turn-of-the-century terrace house. The client requested a variety of multi-use spaces providing for the everyday needs of the occupants which is able to be transformed to accommodate visitors on extended stays. A spiral staircase provides the pivotal point where these spaces interconnect. Rooms open out from each side, offset by half a level for privacy, with a connection maintained via the openness and movement of the stairs.
DESIGN DESCRIPTION
The project focuses on the 'grand and gracefully' spiralling stair that forms the pivotal junction of the old and new parts of the house. The staircase, spanning the width of the building, features delicate fan-like steel treads cantilevered from the central steel post and winding their way past six split levels, offset between the old and new sides of the house. The stair was conceived as the element that grafts the contemporary and new minimal structure to the refined, trimmed and formal older portion of the dwelling.
Spacious living areas and private zones open out with one area per level alternating between the old and new building. Formal living, dining, kitchen and informal living, and master suite, guest suite, study and laundry rooms are incorporated into the old and new sections of the house.
Internally, finishes in the old portion of the house are contemporary and elegant in a stripped-classical style with deep flush skirting boards, mannered panelled doors and wide timber floorboards, all in gloss white paint and offset by richly coloured set plaster walls.
In contrast, the mainly white extension with the same gloss white floorboards features a black stained timber-boarded joinery element across three levels. Bronze window frames, ironmongery and trims unite both portions of the three-storey home.
Externally, the connection to the outdoors is accentuated through a 13 metre clear span wall of sliding doors that overlooks a pocket garden. In addition to this, the bi-folding doors are concealed by joinery to provide a seamless connection to the tiered rear garden which features a mature pepper tree.
ACCOLADES
RAIA National Architecture Awards, Interior Architecture 2012
RAIA National Awards, Residential Architecture - Houses Alterations & Additions, commendation 2012
Australian Interior Design Awards, Residential Design, winner 2012
Australian Interior Design Awards, Best Colour In Residential Design 2012
Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, winner Residential Interior 2012
IDEA (Interior Design Excellence Awards), Single Residential winner 2012
Houses Awards Alteration & Addition Over 200m2, commendation 2012
PRODUCTS
DOOR HARDWARE
FSB KNOB BRASS BROWN WAX
ENSUITE MARBLE
ONSITE SUPPLY & DESIGN ROSSO LEVANTO POLISHED FINISH
BATH & VANITY
CORIAN, GLACIER WHITE 101 MATT FINISH
POWDER ROOM
COLOURBACK GLASS GROSVENOR GLASS G30-05 POLISH & MINIMUM ARRIS ALL EDGES
INTERNAL DOORS, SKIRTINGS & TRIMS IN OLD HOUSE
RESENE LUSTACRYL SEMI GLOSS WATER BASED ENAMEL
NEW EXTERNAL DOORS
ALUMINIUM
OLD HOUSE PAINT
LIVING ROOM WALLS: DULUX, CARMEN MIRANDA
GROUND FLOOR HALLWAY: DULUX, BLUE GARTER
POWDER ROOM: COLOURBACK GLASS DULUX VIOLET INTENSE
MASTER BED WALLS: DULUX, ADHESION
JOINERY FINISHES
FEAST WATSON, BLACKWOOD EXTERIOR DECKING STAIN CHARCOAL COLOUR
FLOORING TILES
SKHEME, GREY TRAVERTINE SHIMA SCURO HONED & SEALED
KITCHEN ISLAND STONE
SKHEME, GREY TRAVERTINE SHIMA SCURO HONED & SEALED
ALUMINIUM CLADDING IN ROUND BATHROOM
ALUCOBOND ARCHITECTURAL, BRONZE METALLIC
STAIRS
STEEL SPRAY PAINT IN BRONZE COLOUR
ANTON'S FLOORING, 15MM THICK SOLID BLACKBUTT TIMBER TREADS
WHITE PAINTED FLOORBOARDS
ANTON'S FLOORING, PORTER'S WHITE WOODWASH, LASTNLAST TREK PLUS GLOSS FINISH
