Centennial Park Estate

Highly Commended in the 2015 Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Homes Competition
Featured as a film location for Top of the Lake: China Girl, directed by Jane Campion

Sam and Kathryn approached us seeking a thoughtful redesign of their early 1900s home in Centennial Park. Over time, the property had undergone several unsympathetic renovations. Our clients desired a transformation that would suit their family’s lifestyle, including their two teenage sons.pwa.com.au

The existing house suffered from darkness in its central areas. To address this, we aimed to open up the front living and dining spaces, creating a seamless connection to the rear of the property. Without making further drastic changes, our intervention refined the home’s functional aspects while honoring its historic character.

The alterations and extensions expanded the front living and dining rooms to the rear, sympathetically integrating new spaces with the original structure. This major renovation transformed the single-floor Edwardian house into a three-storey family home, discreetly doubling the number of rooms.

Inside, we reorganized the existing layout to maximize indoor and outdoor connections. Departing from the trend of open-plan living, the house features separate kitchen, living, and dining areas, connected by a series of framed door openings. These spaces lead to a light-filled family room, reminiscent of an internal courtyard, offering a seamless transition to the newly landscaped garden and pool.

At the rear, we replicated the interwar garage, creating a new portal to Oxley Lane. The new double garage includes storage areas and practical services, along with a second-storey cabana. This addition allows the clients to fully enjoy the quintessential Australian outdoor lifestyle.

This comprehensive renovation at Centennial Park successfully converts a heritage Edwardian house into a modern, three-storey family home. The revived gardens, swimming pool, and rear cabana frame a luxurious internal courtyard, epitomizing the Australian outdoor living experience.