tranquil inner Sydney

It’s no secret, I love inner city Sydney and it’s re-worked miners cottages and terraces, in fact I lived in and renovated a tiny 4 meter wide miner cottage which reminds me of this tranquil Surry Hills cottage.

Benn + Penna recently refurbished and extended a tiny cottage in Surry Hills, located amongst a hub of off-beat galleries, design studios and theatres. The re-design locates the new bedroom and bathrooms spaces above an open-plan living area that opens onto intimate garden spaces at either end of the property.

The Surry Hills House transforms what previously was a dark and unpleasant home into one of abundant natural light and well proportioned spaces. A delicately detailed steel stair rises through the middle of the building and guides natural light from a large skylight above into the centre of the house. A wall of white mosaic tiles lines the back wall of the courtyard, reflecting northern light back into both the garden and rear kitchen space.

The inhabitants are now able to use the entire ground floor as a continuous indoor outdoor space, heightening the experience of leisure activities in the house. The project also provides an additional bedroom and private terrace above for more intimate enjoyment.