Quaint and Considered – Gingerbread House by Carter Williamson

Inspired by the quaint familiar tale of Hansel and Gretel, Gingerbread House captures a home’s pre-existing heritage charm and scale, referencing the known classic. Carter Williamson combines a considered approach in incorporating a previous legacy with principles of flexible and connected living, encouraging natural light inward.

Located in Annadale, the new works see the restoration and strengthening of the home’s previous narrative and past by way of the façade preservation and behind weave a contemporary and relevant family home into the site. Gingerbread House nostalgically hints to its namesake and the familiar form and scale of the tale of Hansel and Gretel, where a quaint and picturesque home becomes the scene for the pair’s fateful encounter. Balancing the old with the new, the preserved streetscape becomes its own veil and the insertion of a light-filled and connected series of spaces emerge, allowing for flexibility over time. Carter Williamson combines a playful approach with a hidden pragmatic resolve to propose a home that maintains its history, while preparing for its future.

Balancing the old with the new, the preserved streetscape becomes its own veil and the insertion of a light filled and connected series of spaces emerge, allowing for flexibility over time.

Built by Ciolino Constructions, with engineering by SDA Structures and landscape by Melissa Wilson Landscape Design, Gingerbread House is home to a young family and so needed to match their vitality. In its spirited and joyful way, the character retained adds a sense of the novelty of yesteryear, while the new elements speak to a more thoroughly resolved rigour and considered approach. From the initial approach and deep into the home, notes to the past are preserved and blended with the new. The tiled door matt greets visitors and references the porches of similar vintage homes, while the retained exposed rafters reference the original structure and methods of its original inception. All movement hints toward the rear garden and terrace that acts as an extension of the interior living space and becomes a place of privacy and protection.

Key to the quality of the resulting home is a revised connection to natural light. As with many heritage homes, the limitations of their time disallowed irregular openings or light wells and as a result the spaces are dark and badly ventilated. Mitigating this, a revised plan opens up the internals while maintaining the original brick walls and overhead rafters, which are painted and celebrated with subtlety. Through the use of select and light finishes, an opening up of internal spaces and introducing light from multiple directions, the home becomes an illuminated version of its former self.

Through the use of select and light finishes, an opening up of internal spaces and introducing light from multiple directions, the home becomes an illuminated version of its former self.

Gingerbread House combines the past and applauds it nuances, while carving a new and cleverly contemplated home that reflects how the occupants use their home both now and in the future as they grow. Carter Williamson has balanced warm timbers and cool whites with considered openings to welcome natural light and maximise the potential of a slight and quaint site.

From the initial approach and deep into the home, notes to the past are preserved and blended with the new.