Manly House One of the key components of the design involved improving the streetscape and minimising the impact of the first floor addition. This was done by using contemporary materials in traditional colours combined with matching the existing roof pitch and harnessing the site topography

Original features of the existing house were retained and replicated and the new glazed curved corridor door acts as a transition from old to new and provides a visual connection from the front to back of the house

Stepping down from the entry corridor ensures the high ceiling height of the original house is replicated in the new open plan kitchen, dining and living and engages the new extension with the garden and nature. Large full height glazed doors and full length skylight provide an abundance and variance of natural light

The new double height stairwell with vaulted ceiling, windows and skylights provides an array of natural light and ventilation to the centre of the home

The high level windows frame key external views, whilst the high level internal hatch window, an ode to Scottish castle interiors, provides an internal view to the stairwell and to the street from the lower bedroom

Stepping down from the entry corridor ensures the high ceiling height of the original house is replicated in the new open plan kitchen, dining and living and engages the new extension with the garden and nature. Large full height glazed doors and full length skylight provide an abundance and variance of natural light

The new second storey creates the additional floor space required. The first floor steps down to break up the plan and provides the opportunity to frame west views and for evening sun to penetrate into the stairwell

The lower corridor leads to the west elevation glazed gable with balcony beyond offering upper floor amenity and expansive views

The balcony is the upper garden and the batten screening to the balcony provides privacy to the neighbours and important solar shading from the harsh west and north sun

The batten screening has openable bi-fold panels to harness views to the west and the city

The batten screening bi-fold panels when closed provide enclosure to the balcony essentially creating an extension to the lounge

The balcony also has south views towards North Head and North views towards Manly Wharf

Wrapping the balcony in batten screening with an open roof reduces the bulk of the top floor as the building steps down along the site

Contemporary dark material palette is used at the rear of the extension to provide a contract to the traditional material palette to the front of the house

The permeable balcony cladding embraces the full height glazed doors of the ground floor, to give a visual depth to the rear facade

The vaulted ceillings to the first floor provide height and architectural feature. Steps in the floor plan provide visual and acoustic privacy to the bedrooms and bathroom and interest to the user

Views of nature are framed throughout the home using feature windows, skylights and high level windows

Timber flooring is contrasted against the white walls and the timber handrail with LED lighting provides a sculptural feature to the stairwell

The main bathroom used a simple materials palette as the backdrop for the copper tapware and fittings

The recessed bath and shower niches with LED provide storage and lighting to the main bathroom

The vaulted ceilings on the first floor were harnessed in the bathroom where a skylight directly over the shower provides a wash of natural light and ventilation

Finger tiles give the impression of verticality to the ground floor ensuite walls and their simplicity is contrasted against the darker terrazzo tiled floor and cistern wall tiles

A combination of terrazzo and eucalyptus glazed tiles adds feature and interest to the first floor bathroom, complimented by brass tapware, jade lighting and timber cabinetry

The recessed shower niche with LED provides storage and lighting to the first floor bathroom

A key part of the design process was the lighting design. Minimal lighting interventions and carefully selected light fittings were used to address the Nordic interior aesthetic the client wanted to achieve

Subtle lighting to cabinetry, wall niches and handrails was used. On the upper floor the vaulted ceilings were left clear of any lighting and wall lights were used to harness the architectural features

Hand crafted porcelain light fittings complimented the Nordic aesthetic and provided light, warmth and feature to the main bedroom