Queens Park by Downie North

Downie North transforms a modest semi-detached home in Sydney’s east into a layered, light-filled family sanctuary defined by curved geometry, crafted detail and an intuitive sense of flow.

Set on a north-facing corner block in Queens Park, the original two-bedroom house was spatially limited and ill-equipped for the needs of its growing young family. What began as a simple renovation evolved into something more ambitious – a compact yet finely tuned residence that balances domestic intimacy with space to move, breathe and grow.

The new volume reads as part of the existing roofline rather than an add-on – subtle, calm and deeply resolved.

Early conversations revealed a multifaceted brief. The clients – a couple with a toddler – sought not only new bedrooms and updated wet areas but also space for a home gym, dual work-from-home zones and the capacity to entertain up to 25 extended family members. It was a lot to fit into a narrow site with tight planning controls and close neighbours.

Rather than overbuild, Downie North tucked the new upper level into the pitch of the original roof, a move that maintained access to northern light and protected the neighbour’s clerestory windows. From the street, folded metal awnings and timber batten screens offer both privacy and softness. The new volume reads as part of the existing roofline rather than an add-on – subtle, calm and deeply resolved.

Inside, the architecture can accommodate the shifting rhythms of daily life.

Inside, the architecture can accommodate the shifting rhythms of daily life. Rather than the typical linear sequence of kitchen, dining and living, these communal spaces fan gently around an outdoor terrace. By rounding the corner, Downie North has created a spatial rhythm that encourages movement and strengthens connections – between indoors and out, between different areas of the home and between people.

Large, cedar-framed doors open the dining and living areas to the north-facing garden, while an oversized awning window with a pneumatic arm creates a deep seat inside and beautifully frames the outside greenery. Above the garage, a new roof terrace provides additional outdoor space and long views across the district, expanding the experience of the home well beyond its walls.

Materials are chosen for their beauty and performance in equal measure.

Materials are chosen for their beauty and performance in equal measure. Japanese ceramic tiles ground the communal spaces, working in tandem with large openings and skylights to passively heat, cool and ventilate the home. The interiors are warm and expressive – polyurethane joinery in Tanguy red, spotted gum veneer, soft whites and a mustard gold that glints just enough in the right light.

At a modest 137 square metres, Queens Park shows what’s possible when a tight brief meets clear thinking and craftsmanship. Downie North has crafted a family home that feels both quietly surprising and entirely at ease.

Architecture by Downie North. Build by Heuvel Construction.