Coastal Charm – Bronte House by Chapman Architecture

A thoughtful renovation of a 1920s Federation home located in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Bronte House feels modern and fresh while still honouring its rich period details. Welcoming the second generation of the residence’s original occupants, Chapman Architecture crafts a robust family dwelling that merges indoor and outdoor spaces at every opportunity, echoing the coastal charm of the suburb.

From the street, the home’s facade blends into the Bronte vernacular with ease – a quintessential Hamptons-style bungalow shaded by palm trees. Although minimal changes were made to the structure of the house, significant architectural interventions were implemented. The ground level has been opened up, and additions include an attic on the first floor, a balcony at the front of the abode, a ground-floor courtyard and a basement cellar, housed within the building’s original sandstone foundations. The home’s location on a steep site also initially posed challenges. Principal architect Andrew Chapman of Chapman Architecture explains, “the solution was actually to decrease the building footprint while making better use of a large subfloor and roof space.”

From the street, the home’s facade blends into the Bronte vernacular with ease – a quintessential Hamptons-style bungalow shaded by palm trees.

On the lower ground floor, a concrete colonnade featuring paired columns complements the timber detailing of the renovated home, drawing attention to the front entrance. Also housed on this level are four children’s bedrooms centred around a common living area. These more intimate spaces, as well as bathrooms, offer a cosy retreat dominated by warm colours, dimmed lighting and soft furnishings. Likewise, the attic hosts an intimate main suite nestled within the existing roof space featuring new dormer windows, resulting in dynamic shapes enhanced by a minimalist yet welcoming design. In contrast, the rejuvenated ground floor flows out to a swimming pool and courtyard at the rear, offering a luminous, open-plan living space with various seating arrangements, including dining, lounge, kitchen bar seating and sunlit booth seating.

Central to the renovation was nurturing a greater connection between the interior and the outdoors. Taking advantage of the sloped site, an elevated balcony was introduced, providing sweeping views of the nearby beach and headlands. Similarly, “by removing two small bedrooms at the rear, we are able to create a large courtyard with a covered dining area, outdoor kitchen and new swimming pool. This went against the convention of addressing ocean views but was a great way of utilising the entire site,” says Andrew. At the same time, expansive glass windows and doors create the feeling of being immersed in the outdoors, imbuing the residence with an atmosphere of leisure and relaxation.

Concrete and stone dominate throughout, while timber-framed glazing and wall cladding create a visual connection with the home’s landscaped embankment and the trees beyond.

The blending of interior and exterior spaces continues through a selection of durable materials. Concrete and stone dominate throughout, while timber-framed glazing and wall cladding create a visual connection with the home’s landscaped embankment and the trees beyond. “Raw materials and a pared-back interior of the lower ground level sits in contrast to the ornate trellis and plasterwork of the level above,” says Andrew. Furnishings are minimal and modern, dominated by muted tones and white hues that encompass the fresh and bright coastal aesthetic Bronte is known for.

Cosy yet refined, airy yet intimate, Bronte House is a layered home that exists in harmony with its inner-city beachside setting. In this way, Chapman Architecture crafts a dynamic dwelling that pays homage to both its past and present, offering a haven for future generations.