Injecting Lightness – Paddington House by James Garvan Architecture

Injecting light into a narrow Victorian terrace in Sydney, James Garvan Architecture opens up the existing formal planning and reconfigures key connecting zones to give the Paddington House a new sense of lightness.

Located in the inner-urban Sydney locale of Paddington, the renovation works see an opening-up of the previously formal plan and a reconfiguration of core internal zones to create a greater sense of connection. Through these gestural interventions, Paddington House emerges as a light-filled building in defiance of its narrow and dark past. James Garvan, founding director of James Garvan Architecture, explains that “the vernacular and highly sort after Victorian terrace defines the streetscape character of Paddington. It also poses several challenges to our modern way of living. The challenge with this project was to resolve the access to daylight, rationalise the interior configuration and to introduce a more contemporary material palette without losing the rich character of the existing house.”

“The challenge with this project was to resolve the access to daylight, rationalise the interior configuration and to introduce a more contemporary material palette without losing the rich character of the existing house.”

Mediating a sense of natural connection between the existing heritage features and the new contemporary elements often defines the success of any renovation. In this case, the approach was to clearly differentiate each and imbue the old and the new with their own distinct design languages. James says, “a clear distinction between the old heritage fabric and the new intervention is evident throughout the home. This is best exemplified when standing directly under the enormous roof light where the characterful original façades of the original house and its neighbour can be seen hovering over the contemporary living spaces.” He adds, “the surrounding neighbourhood terrace house context has a presence in the modern interior via the large steel-framed openings that surround the living spaces,” sitting as a visual representation of the past and present coming together.

Mediating a sense of natural connection between the existing heritage features and the new contemporary elements often defines the success of any renovation. In this case, the approach was to clearly differentiate each and imbue the old and the new with their own distinct design languages.

Initiating the transformation through an interrogation of the plan, James says, “in order to create a more efficient, spacious and open living arrangement, all internal walls in the ground floor living spaces were removed and replaced with a steel frame which spanned the width of the site. Particular consideration was given to orienting joinery and furniture parallel with the site to ensure that circulation through the house from front to back was as efficient as possible.” He continues, “a large part of the success of the project is down to the way natural light penetrates into the home. As you move through the darker original front portion of the house, the typically dark and compartmentalised interior gives way to a spacious, dynamic and light-filled living space, where new steel framed openings to the project’s rear allow dappled light into the interior, filtered by vegetation.”

Particular consideration was given to orienting joinery and furniture parallel with the site to ensure that circulation through the house from front to back was as efficient as possible.

The combination of considered and retrained interventions to the heritage elements is echoed in the approach to materiality and sustainability. There is a deliberation to both. In explaining the approach, James says, “the intent of bringing this muted palette to the interior was to balance the dynamic role that natural light and direct sunlight plays throughout the home. Slender black steel frames define openings, whilst a calm combination of stained veneer, granite and hand-glazed tiles has been applied to the interior, sitting in contrast to the existing and ornate heritage palette.” He continues, “given that the majority of the heritage terrace had to be retained, opportunities to introduce major sustainable principles to the project were limited.” However, through the integration of screening to glazing, adding significant thermal mass to the south, creating opportunities for natural ventilation and the utilisation of certified materials, opportunities were found to improve the home’s energy efficiency, lower its embodied energy, and increase its sustainability.

The combination of considered and retrained interventions to the heritage elements is echoed in the approach to materiality and sustainability. There is a deliberation to both.

Paddington House sees James Garvan Architecture instil an enduring contemporary permanence, punctuating light through to the lower levels and opening the home up to the its rear yard and sky above. Through considered and carefully curated interventions, the subtle and tonal approach taken ensures the project will retain its relevance and endure.