Ashley Street
Hidden amongst the trees above Tamarama Beach, this project was conceived as a private hideaway with a strong connection to nature that, through the deliberate layering of old and new, takes on the quality of a humble coastal cottage.
Ashley House is a freestanding, 2-storey home in Tamarama on a 952sqm block.
An easterly aspect exposes the site to morning sun, while the north-facing boundary is open to capture light throughout the day. Full-height kitchen doors on the northern façade maximise the opportunity for light to fill the kitchen & dining space throughout the day. A series of apertures and skylights are also incorporated into the southerly side of the home, namely the bathrooms and guest bedrooms.
The design brief focused on the preservation of the existing residence which has been achieved through the restoration of traditional elements and enhanced by contrasting contemporary additions. The modernised shaker-style kitchen joinery further emphasises this priority. A classical format defines ground floor spatial planning whereby a sequence of rooms leads from the kitchen out to the deck, exposing views of Tamarama Beach. The upstairs level is dedicated to bedrooms & bathrooms.
Materiality offers an eclectic mix to create textural diversity including custom stained timber floorboards, exposed original brickwork, mangrove buff sandstone paving (cut on site), and New Zealand wool carpet.
The blue moon marble used across the kitchen bench-tops serve as a reminder to our client of the rivers in New Zealand. The insertion of contemporary architectural elements – Flos architectural lighting, custom steel-framed doors, and contemporary object & furniture selections – give the home duality and balance.
Despite the scale and location of the home, the project has a humble, cottage-like feel to it. The heritage of the home has been retained and modern architectural additions unite the home with its environmental context.