“Open up to connect the inside with the outside”
the heritage
Ally isn’t clear on the heritage status of her house, which has huge implications as to what she can and cannot do in renovation terms. The close proximity to the heritage-listed aqueduct has significance with the local council, but not with the NSW Department of Heritage and Environment. This confusion needs to be sorted out, so I’d suggest talking to a heritage consultant before settling on a design and advise getting a hydraulic engineer to assess the implication of flood levels.
the river connection
The triangle of land that drops away from the back of the house down to the cycle path alongside the river is on Ally’s title. It’s steep and narrow, but a perfect spot for a granny flat overlooking the river. Built on the bedrock, there would be no problem with foundations, making the build less risky and less costly. The roof could function as a timber deck off the kitchen and living area, with a spiral staircase leading down from the house. Building at the back of the property is always easier when it comes to planning, as it can’t be seen from the street. But because there are views to this from the cycle path, getting permission could be trickier.
the aesthetics
The aqueduct is considered to be an excellent example of a late 19th century decorative brick and steel truss bridge. Because of its commanding presence, it would be great to use it as inspiration for the finishes on work at the back of Ally’s house. I’d suggest building with brick and black steel detailing – it’s more expensive than timber but so much more expressive and in keeping with local history. A palette of white, grey and black would lend a boat-like feel and the construction would be much more durable in the long-term, too. We could carry the industrial theme from the verandah into the new kitchen, with a large steel window to the side of the house to bring much-needed light into the kitchen. We can then follow through in the finer details. A large industrial-style cooktop, for instance, could look great!
the garden
The open lawn to the western side is as big as the footprint of the house. Because the pipework from the aqueduct runs under here, you can’t build on it, but you can landscape. Given that Ally is a garden designer, she’ll no doubt transform it into a wonderful retreat. There aren’t many windows on this side of the house, so it would be amazing if she could put more in and not waste that north-western light! Stairs leading down from the new verandah would link the living area to the garden without having to go back out through the front door to get there.