Changing places — Local Paddo

Alison Nobbs

With renovations booming, we ask lPaddington architect Alison Nobbs, one half of Nobbs Radford Architects, has gained attention for two new houses, including her own family home, called Paddington House 05, and the equally stunning Woollahra House. Paddington House 05 was shortlisted for Houses magazine’s new house of the year prize.

Alison, how do you go about integrating a new and on-trend home into an established neighbourhood without upsetting the prevailing built environment?

A large part of the beauty and appeal of conservation areas like Paddington and Woollahra is the en masse preservation of the formal streetscapes and that’s certainly something we support. Things can get really interesting, though, in the back lanes and hidden nooks of neighbourhoods. This is where the life and personality of dwellings can free up. In these areas it’s more about an interpretive approach. The Paddington House is nestled in a back laneway, so it has a more informal set of constraints to 'fit in'. Its streetscape is predominantly garage doors of adjoining terraces. In this instance it was about referencing the original subdivision pattern of the site. This influenced how the house is distributed — its overall positioning had to have historical reference, but it’s important not to mimic the past so that buildings remain relevant. The fronts of terraces are where everyone is on their best behaviour and these have remained largely unchanged over time. The laneways are where all the stories are, that’s where the layers of change sit.

What can new and interesting architecture add to heritage suburbs such as Paddington and Woollahra?

Most importantly, buildings should respond to life. The Paddington lifestyle now is very different to the 19th-century Paddington. Conservation areas need to be handled delicately, but new and interesting architecture keeps them relevant.

Wende Reid

Wende Reid’s Form and Colour is a Paddington multi-disciplinary design business dedicated to design, renovation, installation and project management. Reid also designs and manufactures bespoke furniture and lighting.

Wende, do you feel there is a danger in removing old or heritage items from houses, or is anything up for grabs inside a house?

I’m a huge believer in judicious editing. Editing done carefully will result in differentiating quality and irreplaceable details being retained, while some less than unique or not truly original elements can be removed. Don’t destroy anything you can’t replace unless you’re very sure it’s going to make a positive difference. When making structural changes try to look to the future, beyond the fashion of the moment. I also feel that the mood and spirit of a building can be enhanced by removing old elements, but by respecting the materials, proportions and history when replacing them.

Is there a simple way to resolve the push and pull between old and new when it comes to architecture and design?

Character and charm are irreplaceable while new usage requirements need to be addressed. Delete with a clear conscience any historical reproduction elements, especially ones that don’t match the period of the building, and dated unergonomic kitchens and bathrooms, pokey rooms, nasty ceiling lights, mismatched door furniture, unoriginal floor finishes, and poor makeshift joinery, plumbing or electrical works. Simple is fine. Craftsmanship matters.

What for you is the difference between a house and a home?

A house is a structure. A home is where life takes place. A home evolves, it has layers and emotional content. A home speaks of the people who live there. People may be seduced by new kitchens and bathrooms they see in magazines and images of pristine living spaces, but a home has marks in a doorway tracking how children have grown. A home isn’t always pristine. A home has belongings with meaning to the owners. Even if you keep only one thing from each chapter of your life, its presence adds depth to your environment.

Jillian Dinkel

New York-born writer and interior stylist Jillian Dinkel, a regular contributor to Local magazines, creates beautiful contemporary homes from the shells of heritage houses. Her latest project includes the restoration of a terrace house on Paddington’s Heeley Street.

Jill, when you are renovating a property, what do you look for as you get started?

When I get started, I'm searching for hints of the home's provenance — original floorboards, marble fireplace surrounds and ornate cornices make my heart sing. I also look at the layout of the home. Older homes are rarely best configured for how we live today. When there are opportunities to bring out the best of the home’s original architecture and reconfigure spaces to suit a more open-plan style of living, I know I'm on to a project that will really suit my expertise.

As a former New Yorker, what different perspectives do you bring to your view on Sydney terrace housing?

New York has a beautiful architectural history and it's very common to mix very contemporary furnishings and art within an ornate turn-of-the-century brownstone. Our histories are very different, of course, and styles do vary a bit, but it's that spirit of style being very important that I've taken with me. Having a very considered home with well-designed and selected pieces will always be central to my aesthetic.

What do you think we Sydney-siders could be improving in relation to our domestic design?

Sydney has so many advantages; the relaxed lifestyle and near year-round sunshine being pretty high on the list. However, I've found we don't adapt our homes to these advantages. Most terrace homes I come across have forgotten and under-utilised courtyards, and rooftop entertaining spaces are near unheard of. I'm on a mission to create beautiful outdoor living spaces wherever I can.

Jen Humphry

Jen and Stephen Humphry’s Modify takes clients from concept phase to turn-key. Recent local projects have ranged from restoring a book publishing office in Heeley Street, Paddington, to the complete restoration of a large, local heritage home.

For you, what is the particular attraction of heritage homes?

Homes with heritage features of significance have real warmth and character — these features can, in a lot of ways, do all of the heavy lifting in terms of creating aesthetic beauty in the original part of the home. Depending on the client, they can heavily influence the rear, newer parts of the home and recreate history but to today’s living standards. Alternatively, the heritage features provide the wonderful paradox against a new modern extension.

How do you resolve being sensitive to heritage while providing a modern living environment that is enjoyable for homemakers and families?

At the end of the day the heritage features are an insight into how people lived 100 or more years ago. This is ordinarily not in sync with how we live now but, importantly, you don’t need to wipe these features out to be able to make them work within a newer, more aesthetically and functionally considered home.

How do you bring the natural environment more into our built environment?

The natural environment can be considered in two parts when renovating. Firstly, how can a better connection with the outdoor spaces be best utilised, and how can we maximise natural light and ventilation in to the spaces? Separate to that, we consider how to be more environmentally responsible, both in terms of energy (future running costs of the house) and also in the way we undertake construction and recycle materials.

How can we incorporate more sustainability into our housing in areas that are steeped in age and used materials?

Easily — it’s all in the planning and this is at the forefront of our mind when working with clients. You need to consider: natural light, ventilation, insulation and glazing to ensure the ongoing running costs of the house are reduced. In addition, during construction we are focused on sustainability/recycling of materials. If you consider these things in the planning phase you can get them right … it is very hard to retrofit these things.

Amelia Holliday

Amelia Holliday and Isabelle Toland run Aileen Sage Architects. Their Paddington Courtyard House, built for Amelia’s growing family, has won several architectural awards and contains a secret garden.

Amelia, when you are working with properties such as this, how do you resolve being sensitive to heritage while providing a modern living environment?

It was important the new house took cues from the existing one and from the surrounding heritage context. The house maintains traditional elements of the terrace vernacular but reinterprets them through a contemporary lens. The overhanging balcony and sandstone foundation echo the patterns of the surrounding terraces. The material palette similarly references the original and surrounding built language — sandstone, bagged recycled brick and rough rendered masonry.

How can we incorporate more sustainability into our housing in areas that are steeped in age and used materials?

Natural light and ventilation on all levels, recycled materials, minimising material waste and reusing, where possible, used materials during construction.

Cote Interiors designer Coco Tully recently conceptualised the interiors for Face by SM, a new beauty space on Oxford Street. It features mood lighting, contemporary finishes and hidden touches.

Coco, you were tasked with making an old shopfront sexy. What vision did you have in mind when you started?

The design was all about blending the old and new, finding the beauty in the contrasts. For example, I placed contemporary brushed-brass wall lights above the traditional panelling in the hallway (an ode to the terrace’s heritage). I also juxtaposed the original polished concrete floor against pale blush french-washed walls in the reception. I even added an archway — a mainstay of terrace house design — but in a pared-back, modern way.

Is there a way to rethink heritage spaces without losing their core values as part of a unified streetscape?

Often people get caught up in trends and their personal preferences without consideration of the bigger picture. When working with a heritage space and in a historic area like Paddington, it’s important to remember you’re not designing in a bubble — each space is part of the greater fabric.

What is the importance of beautiful shop frontages to a neighbourhood such as Paddington?

Paddington is an incredibly vibrant neighbourhood where rich history, diverse community and contemporary living coexist. The beautiful and varied shop frontages are a visual representation of how truly dynamic and trendsetting it is — speaking to both the residents and visitors alike. They tell the story of the area from its origins to who lives here now and what is important to them.