Crafted Enveloping – Balmain Hearth by Benn + Penna Architecture

Reaching deep into its generous allotment, Balmain Hearth is the expansion of an existing terrace that wraps around a rear garden and introduces a new entertaining space. Benn + Penna Architecture adopts an approach to materiality and form that is cohesive with the original home and grounds the new living areas in the landscape.

Located in Sydney’s inner west, Balmain Hearth sees both alterations and additions take place, intertwining new amenities to repurpose the original home into one that reflects a love for the outdoors. Extending into the site, the original double-fronted terrace is unfolded, creating opportunities for connected and shared living spaces whilst establishing a new openness to the natural elements. Set among a newly curated landscape setting by Arborliz, movement is funnelled through the home’s existing volumes into the addition at the rear. As a mark of the new lightness of the home, Benn + Penna Architecture proposes a form that appears to gently hover.

Extending into the site, the original double-fronted terrace is unfolded, creating opportunities for connected and shared living spaces whilst establishing a new openness to the natural elements.

Narrow in nature, the site pushed for a refined and linear response to guide the final resolve. Spread over multiple levels, the home has an established sense of separation and needed a space that would better facilitate a natural connection. L-shape in arrangement, the addition visually leads to the landscape and newly defined outdoor entertaining space. The extrusion of the form sits as though it is raised from the ground, with a recessive shadow line elevating the underside of the form.

Taking inspiration from the original structure, brick is used as the main structural element in the new, forming an outdoor room and walled garden space. The inclusion of an outdoor fireplace represents the source of heat as the more traditional heart of the home and main gathering place for occupants and visitors. Drawing activity out into the landscape, the permanent addition animates the garden space whilst embedding key function.

Located in Sydney’s inner west, Balmain Hearth sees both alterations and additions take place, intertwining new amenities to repurpose the original home into one that reflects a love for the outdoors.

Restrained in its approach, Balmain Hearth is a celebration of simplicity. By extending already established line work further into the site, the connection to the original is reinforced and a calmness through the green connection is felt throughout.