Bronte House

The renovation of any home – in this case a ground and first floor addition with three more bedrooms, one ensuite, one bathroom and a new open plan living, dining and kitchen area – is an exercise in adding to an existing building fabric in a way that is both complementary and sympathetic. For a heritage listed house on a prominent and busy site, achieving that balance is even more imperative.

For Bronte House, our design approach was to, quite literally, bridge the gap between old and new with a contemporary pavilion style addition linked by a bridging connection. This bridge has left the existing building intact while maximising daylight into the new first floor and ground floor living areas.

Light plays a key role in the both the internal design and in activating the façade. A system of screening balances the need for privacy and views and introduces a play of light and shadow across the course of the day.

The material selection reinforces the distinction between old and new while complementing the whole, and a restrained palette of finishes makes for a warm and elegant interior that is unfussy without being sterile.