Dynamic and Conservative – Annandale House by Norrsken Ko.

Occupying a long and narrow inner-city block in a fiercely historical neighbourhood, Annandale House by Norrsken Ko. delicately balances two seemingly competing aspects – a conservative locale and the desires of a dynamic family. Offering a single storey traditional frontage, the resultant design coalesces the three defining gestures of street presence, direct response to site and the robust ability to evolve as needed over time.

In an area renowned for its unyielding desire for preservation of existing streetscape, replacing an existing historical home required careful attention to form and character, allowing a respectful reinterpretation within stringent parameters. Approached to build on the street with a particularly strict heritage protocol, Norrsken Ko. Studio Director, Arana Wallenhoffer explains the clients were “looking to build once and once only.” Adding, “the home was supposed to be a relief – an exhalation after a long day. But, at the same time, it needed to infuse energy for the next day.” Responding to surrounding homes Arana explains, “Annandale House attempts to nestle into this streetscape in a well-mannered and courteous way… confident in its modernity, ability to fulfil the clients’ needs and inevitable ebbs and flows that come with time and circumstance.”

Occupying a long and narrow inner-city block in a fiercely historical neighbourhood, Annandale House by Norrsken Ko. delicately balances two seemingly competing aspects – a conservative locale and the desires of a dynamic family.

Paying attention to the relationship and flow of each space, the occupation of the house is split to create feelings of depth, containment and release across the slope of the site. The compressed nature of the single storey entry, with a separate private lounge at grade, illustrates a rigour to arrangement of space. Utilising an articulated steel and timber staircase, planning flows down to main shared living spaces and up to private sleeping zones.

Material selection is responsive to intended feel, seeing weatherboard and timber panelling contrast robust polished concrete and exposed brickwork, both interpreting the brief and bridging historical locale with modern convenience. Application is layered with meaning, progressing throughout, talking of permeance, stability and timelessness. “The house is quite conservative, quiet even, from the outside,” Arana says. “It’s not trying to make a statement or shout its arrival or presence. But, as you move deeper into the home, bold textures, interesting materials and subtle details expose a real confidence and assuredness.”

The pivotal element of the lower-level design is the MODE Corner Gas Fireplace from Stoke Fireplace Studio, positioned to provide relief and detail to the long expanse of uninterrupted brickwork.

Internally, warm timber flooring marks the entrance before flowing down the stairs, its conclusion punctuated by a glazed steel sliding door. The opposing wall is a luxurious vanilla-coloured exposed brick, a key feature running the entire southern length of the residence, bringing a calming consistency across level changes and material transitions. The kitchen is soft with natural stone, sitting comfortably against green and neutral coloured joinery. Steel framing to the island references window detailing and encourages interaction with the courtyard. Timber features again in the sunken living room create a contrast to crisp polished concrete and meticulous brickwork, resulting in a neutral and calming backdrop to family life.

The pivotal element of the lower-level design is the MODE Corner Gas Fireplace from Stoke Fireplace Studio, positioned to provide relief and detail to the long expanse of uninterrupted brickwork. “The challenge is how to ensure the home still feels warm,” Arana explains. “A fireplace is obviously the most natural inclusion. But it was also a meaningful design feature, universally understood to be a position of warmth and gathering.” She continues, “we’d seen the MODE gas fireplace in the Stoke Fireplace Studio and had been waiting to include it on a project.”

The MODE Corner Gas Fireplace balances the heritage and modern requirements for the residence, something the brand strives to achieve through challenging the confines of traditional fireplace design with unexpected shapes and sizes. “It’s such a beautiful, minimal design,” explains Arana, “and its position straddles this transition space between the living and dining, as if to invite both spaces to share its heat.” Alex Hodge, MODE Lead Designer, comments, “our customers are drawn to the MODE Corner Gas Fire for its contemporary edge. The impact of the corner is unconventional and yet its execution is sophisticated and elegant.” In this application, Alex explains it “anchors the lower level of the living room, creating a designated zone within the open plan.”

With contemporary poise, the essence of the neighbourhood character has informed the architecture of Annandale House. Reflecting elements from the streetscape, Norrsken Ko. interprets rather than replicates, achieving a timeless home for a young family over many years to come.