X

Turn-of-the-century terrace house in Sydney: Tusculum Residence

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-01-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence is a modern renovation and extension of a turn-of-the-century terrace house by Smart Design Studio, situated in Sydney, Australia’s Potts Point. The design of the 3,498 square foot (325 square meters) home centers on a grand and gracefully spiralling stair that forms the pivotal junction of the old and new parts of the house. The staircase, spanning the width of the building, features delicate fan-like steel treads cantilevered from the central steel post and winding their way past six split levels, offset between the old and new sides of the house. The stair was conceived as the element that grafts the contemporary and new minimal structure to the refined, trimmed and formal older portion of the dwelling.

Spacious living areas and private zones open out from each side of the stair with one area per level alternating between the old and new building. Formal living, dining, kitchen and informal living; master suite, guest suite, study and laundry: each zone maintains a natural sense of privacy from the other through the offset in level yet maintains a sense of interconnection in the openness and movement created by the stair.

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-02-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-03-1 Kindesign

Externally, the connection to the outdoors is accentuated through a 13 meter clear span wall of sliding doors that overlooks a pocket garden. An addition to this, the bi-folding doors are concealed by joinery to provide a seamless connection to the tiered rear garden with mature pepper tree. This house offers extraordinary spaces complemented by confident forms, understated design and exquisite detail.

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-04-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-05-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-06-1 Kindesign

Internally, finishes in the old portion of the house are contemporary and elegant in a stripped-classical style with deep flush skirting boards, mannered panelled doors and wide timber floorboards, all in gloss white paint and offset by richly coloured set plaster walls. In contrast, the mainly white extension with the same gloss white floorboards, features a black stained timber-boarded joinery element across three levels. Bronze window frames, ironmongery and trims unite both portions of the three-storey home.

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-07-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-08-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-09-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-10-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-11-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-12-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-13-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-14-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-15-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-16-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-17-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-18-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-19-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-20-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-21-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-22-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-23-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-24-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-25-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-26-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-27-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-28-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-29-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-30-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-31-1 Kindesign

Photos: Courtesy of Smart Design Studio

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-32-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-33-1 Kindesign

Tusculum Residence-Smart Design Studio-34-1 Kindesign

Subscribe
Notify of

1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jub
10 years ago

It looks like there is no connection between the parking lot and the garden, how can you came home with your bags ? I can’t see any door, or anything else… ???