Friends Indeed
Creative mates helped one Sydney family achieve the home of their dreams.
Asolid friendship that stretches back 20 years is the foundation upon which this Sydney house isbuilt.OwnerJordanhas beenmateswitharchitect AndrewCollins,adirector of Canberra firm Collins Pennington Architects, since they met through a mutualfriendduringtheSydneyOlympics. Factoring in this friendship, Andrew was the clear choice when Jordan and his wife Marije set about extending a cottage they bought in 2017 for their family of five.
“Everyone warned us things can get tricky when you work with a friend
“FROM THE FRONT DOOR, YOU CAN LOOK SOUTH TO THE HARBOUR OR NORTH THROUGH TO THE LEAFY COURTYARD.” Andrew Collins, architect
and money is involved,” says Jordan, “but the friendship between Andrew and I was strong and it remains so. I also know Andrew is an exceptionally good architect. We had inherent trust in him from the beginning.”
Having moved back to Australia after working in Europe for many years, the family purchased this home, in part, for its proximity to a ferry wharf. “Jordan and Marije approach life from a very European perspective,” says Andrew. “It was important to them to be close to public transport. They’re people who are happy to embrace public amenity over private – they see no need for a big backyard when there’s a park and beach nearby.”
While Jordan and Marije were keen to honour the heritage of the 1905 cottage, they also needed more space for their three sons, Oscar, 12, Samuel, 10, and Boris, six. Andrew’s solution was to enhance the structure that was already there by adding a zinc-clad, double-storey extension within the existing footprint.
“We decided to excavate under the house to improve the connection between the home and garage,” says Andrew, who designed a staircase that doubles as a light well,
“COMFORT WAS OUR TOP PRIORITY IN THE LIVING AREA. IT’S A SPACE WHERE WE DECOMPRESS.” Jordan, owner
making every level feel that much brighter. “Going in under the existing house also allowed us to create a wellness area with a sauna in the basement.”
From the home’s entrance, there’s a view right through to the green-walled courtyard by Durie Design (landscape designer Jamie Durie is another of the couple’s creative acquaintances). The main bedroom is situated in the existing structure, along with one of the boys’ bedrooms, but then the house opens out into the new living, dining and kitchen areas – all with glimpses of that spectacular staircase.
In the kitchen, a 4-metre-long island is topped with family-friendly Super White Dolomite and features a striking shadowline effect. “This detailing allows the stone to be the star rather than simply butting into the surrounding joinery,” says Andrew.
Stunning stone and tile selections made by interior designer Megan Brown of Penman Brown Interiors – another friend of the family engaged to work on this project – elevate the ensuite, family bathroom and powder room. “For the ensuite, I chose a heavily veined Cote D’Azur marble for its fantastic energy,” says Megan. “Everything else in the room is
very minimal and soft.” In the family bathroom, Andrew included a clerestory window to capture glimpses of the original brick chimney from the bath. “It’s nice to be able to incorporate the home’s history into new rooms,” he says. “It might be a small detail but it can speak volumes.”
The dining area, part of an open-plan space, is punctuated by a picture window with views to the green wall. Designed as a space for relaxation and conversation, the living area is primarily used by the grown-ups. For the kids, there’s a rumpus room downstairs plus a breakout space on the first floor where they can game away on their PlayStation. The top-floor study morphs into a guestroom when friends or family come to stay.
With its nooks, angles and graceful design, it feels like there’s much more to the house than there actually is, says Jordan. “The footprint we were working with was quite small, but Andrew has created the maximum useable space for us. The design is tight and efficient but still flows intuitively.” Collins Pennington Architects, Griffith, ACT; collinspenningtonarchitects.com.au. Penman Brown Interior Design, Manly, NSW; penmanbrown.com.
“JORDAN ALWAYS TELLS ME HOW MUCH HE ENJOYS LIVING IN THE HOME. FOR ME, THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.” Andrew Collins, architect