Paddington Project

by MiArchitects

The original 2-storey brick and timber floor structure (built as a storage warehouse for MYERS in 1907) is built to every boundary of a double width block in Paddington, NSW. The block slopes down 5.5m to a rear lane where there was room for a van and a small workshop. Converting the former warehouse into a family house involved retaining all the existing perimeter walls (Council / Heritage control) and cutting/excavating all the sandstone down to rear lane level; and then removing both timber floors and the roof. An entirely new concrete structure was then inserted into this four story chasm, featuring staggered floor levels built around a central atrium. The atrium was needed to bring light into the centre of the house (there were no openings in the side walls) The finished house features garaging for 4 cars, a plantroom, a cellar at the rear lane level, with a Laundry, storage and workshop on the next half level up; The circulation around the atrium then leads up to a self-contained 2-bed apartment on the next half level; Continuing up around the central atrium you arrive at the front street level where there is a further bedroom with ensuite, a powder room and a library/study set either side of the main front door; Climbing up again one arrives at the dining room and double height kitchen/living room and terrace facing to the rear (north); Spiralling up another half level leads to the master bedroom with ensuite and 2 giant walk-in-robes; Another half level up around the atrium leads to another living space, bathroom, study and outdoor terrace, before the final climb to the roof garden …..… …… and if you’re exhausted with all this climbing, do not fear! – there is a lift connecting all levels.

Built with military precision to avoid bearing any load onto the existing brick perimeter walls, it is effectively a brand new building in an old dress. The atrium has a James Bond style retractable glass roof, that when opened enables the house to be naturally cooled using the stack effect created by heat rising up the atrium and drawing in cooler air through openings in the basement that benefit from the natural ‘coolth’ of the sandstone. Watching the three (radically different) owners furnish the house entirely differently, speaks to the robust background solidity of the architecture that has been detailed in a very clean simple manner. The many outdoor areas have been beautifully landscaped by Dangar Barin Smith and the roof garden features a small plunge pool.