The Future of Inner-city Living – Laneway Glass House by Henry Wilson and Brad Swartz Architects

Pointing towards the future of inner-city living, Laneway Glass House is the expanded home and working quarters of industrial designer, Henry Wilson. Collaborating with Brad Swartz Architects, Wilson reconfigures the existing residence, establishing an exemplar contemporary space.

Settled onto a Darlinghurst laneway branching off Oxford Street, Laneway Glass House aligns with its built context – a compact terrace house set amongst others of its kind. Organically brought together, Henry Wilson and Brad Swartz Architects quickly acknowledged the opportunity to build on the site and created a rear lane addition that would serve as a prototype for similar developments in the future. Initially a plan for a garage and studio, the design brief naturally evolved to serve a greater architectural appetite, detailing a large-scale spatial rearrangement complemented by a studied materiality.

Standing as the inverse of the typical terrace house, Laneway Glass House features a hybrid studio-parking area on its ground floor with the living areas situated on the floor above.

Standing as the inverse of the typical terrace house, Laneway Glass House features a hybrid studio-parking area on its ground floor with the living areas situated on the floor above. The spatial format allows the living areas to embrace ample natural light, expansive views and maximum cross-ventilation. A spiral staircase forms an influential aspect of the newly-efficient floorplan, narrowing the circulation space to just two square metres. Utilising a cast concrete tread, the robust staircase functions as the backbone of the building, connecting the different levels in a sculptural fashion.

Materials are uniquely applied to Laneway Glass House, suggesting the individual nature of the project. In contrast to regular dwellings, materiality is used to articulate natural forms and subvert expectations for a compact space. In the kitchen, travertine is employed in a standard size without grout lines, enabling a broad, sophisticated and slab-like presentation. Though typically reserved for commercial environments, stainless steel is used to great effect, imbuing the space with a clean and monolithic character. Fisher & Paykel’s products are easily incorporated into the space – the Integrated Refrigerator seamlessly blends into the joinery and the Minimal Oven and Induction Hob complement the kitchen’s sleek aesthetic.

Fisher & Paykel’s products are easily incorporated into the space – the Integrated Refrigerator seamlessly blends into the joinery and the Minimal Oven and Induction Hob complement the kitchen’s sleek aesthetic.

Paying homage to the Maison de Verre in Paris, Henry Wilson and Brad Swartz Architects arrange glass blocks to reflect and refract natural light whilst maintaining a private interiority. Integrated into the façade, the blocks present Laneway Glass House as a shining jewel, sitting upon an otherwise-mundane road.