Surry Hills House | Benn & Penna Architecture

Designed by Benn & Penna Architecture, Surry Hills House is alterations and additions to a tiny inner city terrace, including new bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, courtyard and living spaces. The 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.

Photography by © Tom Ferguson

The project transforms what previously was a dark and introverted home into one of abundant natural light and generously 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 center 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.

Photography by © Tom Ferguson

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.

Photography by © Tom Ferguson

Modest in scale, the new built form is a subtle play on the elongation of dwellings predominant in the narrow lots in inner-central Sydney. The pared back and the understated interior is designed to foreground the rich texture of local brickwork surrounding the site.

Photography by © Tom Ferguson

Project Info:
Architects: Benn & Penna Architecture
Location: Australia
Architects in Charge: Andrew Benn, Sean Tran
Area: 90.0 m2
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Tom Ferguson
Manufacturers: Alspec, Cultured Stone, Dorma, James Hardie, Mosaic Del Sur, oak, Earp Bros, Lysaght, Dekton, Tongue n Groove
Project Name: Surry Hills House