Size Does Matter – Waverley by Carla Middleton Architects

As an exercise in restraint, Waverley House is focused on quality over quantity – the home and its connection to the natural elements are optimised to enhance the living experience. Carla Middleton Architecture forms a palette of soft hues that complement and extend the relevance of an existing home through a more contemporary lens.

The owners of Waverley House sought to create a minimal addition to their existing home, unlike most other renovation and alteration examples that focus on grandeur and an increased form as the priority. They wanted to concentrate on creating a balance between scale and finish, leaving budget to also fill the home with a more curated collection of furniture, artwork and lighting. The result became more of an enhancement of the everyday than an expression of scale. With a desire to draw back on size and allow for a more elevated interaction with the spaces, Carla Middleton Architecture uses purposeful restraint.

With a desire to draw back on size and allow for a more elevated interaction with the spaces, Carla Middleton Architecture uses purposeful restraint.

Located in Sydney and as part of an existing semi-detached terrace building, the home maintains its existing three bedrooms and sees the reworking of two bathrooms with a contemporary relevance. With the addition contained to the ground level, the form is extruded to the rear – instead of extending upward – to become immersed within the landscaping. Marking the point of the new addition, steps descend downward as the threshold shifts from existing to new. Expanding the sense of volume, the existing silhouette of the home is maintained, allowing an increased volumetric quality to be created by lowering the floor and raising the internal ceiling at the same time.

The interior focuses on a lightness and clarity of tone and finish, which carries through into the selection of inserted objects. A subtle palette binds the elements within the residence, allowing the integrated joinery to sit as part of the architecture and conceal amenity and storage, whilst also created surfaces for display. The curation of artwork and furniture becomes highlighted against the limewashed timber walls, which act as the ideal canvas for incoming light.

Expanding the sense of volume, the existing silhouette of the home is maintained, allowing an increased volumetric quality to be created by lowering the floor and raising the internal ceiling at the same time.

By challenging the more conventional and accepted approach of ‘bigger is better’, Waverley House stands as a testament to the counter. Carla Middleton Architecture strips away excess in favour of elevating the quality of the home.