Boston Street House is an alteration and addition to a classic 1992 brick and tile builder’s special in the “burbs”.

The new piece of modern architecture was designed by architect James Russell and Andrew Sinclair, who have incorporated PGH Black and Tan bricks throughout the project.

The aim of the assignment was to demonstrate that a home located in a developer’s estate, with challenges such as west-facing double glazed windows, could benefit from small interventions using bricks.

The original developer had created a twelve meter concrete bowl for scars with rooms behind, which attracted heat in the afternoon sun.

The dipping concrete driveway and a double lock up garage was the transition between house and street. The back yard and pool could only be accessed through an awkward series of doors and the house was trapped in the middle.

Russell and Sinclair’s design means the cars are now covered with a simple structure on the street. The two-story brick bay was removed and a number of small openings joined to make a large aperture at the rear.

The mass of concrete was removed to make a landscape journey starting under the Poinciana trees on the street edge through to the pool at the back of the site.

Bricks were used to alter or fix, and rendered block to meet or retain the earth. It is clear where new work has occurred but it is in fitting with the existing house.

The Boston Street House was awarded a highly commended in the Residential, Think Brick, Horbury Hunt Awards in 2011.