Theresa St Residence

Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts

Theresa St Residence

Sonelo Design Studio

PHOTO
Peter Bennetts (10), Sonelo Design Studio (1)

STATUS
Built

AREA
0 sqft - 1000 sqft

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Vic, Australia

TYPE
Residential › Private House

Subtlety is the one word Theresa Street residence evokes.

On our first visit to this single storey house off a cul-de-sac lane, we were dazed by what presented before us.

Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts

Upon entry, we were greeted by a tripartite layout with rather wide hallway barreling through the gut of the house into the living room. Two clumsy stairs ascended from hallway to mezzanines.

Spaces were dim and disjointed. Mezzanines were low in headroom. Bathrooms were bunker like, far removed from the loft interiors it boasted.

We were tasked to create a seamless light-filled interior whilst not diminishing the accommodation.

Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts

With a modest construction budget, contrary to the extent of works required, our intervention became an exercise of restraint.

A rigorous re-planning was necessary to bring forth spatial clarity and continuity.

New kitchen, dining, and bathrooms were relocated to the heart of the house, previously a bland hallway, linking existing front entry to the living room simultaneously benefitting from the tall gable ceiling.

Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts
Theresa St Residence
© Peter Bennetts

Selection of finishes took cue from existing industrial detail and palette was kept neutral. The outcome is a modest seamless interior effortlessly disguising the old as new.


Theresa St Residence
© Sonelo Design Studio