Warmly Reinstated – Monty Sibbel by Nuud Studio

As a celebration of the natural and the warm, Monty Sibbel is a reworking of an existing midcentury-era home into a more contemporary and long-wearing iteration that remains intimately connected to its origins. Nuud Studio focuses on uncovering the authenticity of the home and its original charm while readying it for its coming chapters through a pared-back and considered intervention.

Many of the original outer and inner structural elements were not designed and built in response to climate; rather, they were more a response to the style at the time. The outer walls were thin, with single glazing and a lack of insulation throughout, and the home needed extensive intervention to improve its climactic performance. Following on from this, the brief was extended to include sensitively updating entire home for modern lifestyle requirements. In response, Nuud Studio references and directs the focus to the surrounding natural elements, embedding the home in its place.

Stripping back all the elements that did not align and serve the original style of the home was key.

While the home feels of its time, it has undergone a significant overhaul of its comprising parts to ensure its legacy can and will continue. Stripping back all the elements that did not align and serve the original style of the home was key. Replacing tired finishes such as the existing carpet and addressing additions and renovations added over the years was the first point of call. With the original fabric as the main inspiration, a warm palette of rich and naturally textural materials was formed. Blackbutt timber creates a sense of consistency across the flooring throughout while also setting the tone of warmth in the process.

Utilising the advancements in technology and innovation in building skin and a broader understanding of how to live with climate underpinned the approach to the interventions. The performance of the home was assessed and upgraded in appropriate areas. The original cedar windows were restored to ensure an elongated lifespan, alleviating the need for them to be replaced, with retrofitted double glazing significantly boosting the thermal comfort.

With the original fabric as the main inspiration, a warm palette of rich and naturally textural materials was formed.

Expressing the undulations in material finishes and continuing a story of warmth, Monty Sibbel is a respectful restoration and reworking of its original intent. Nuud Studio pays respects to its origins and a style that was both experimental and innovative of its time, weaving in new learnings to further enhance the experience of the home for many years, and potentially many occupants, to come.