Small House by Domenic Alvaro has won World House of the Year at the 2011 World Architectural Festival (WAF) Awards in Barcelona.
Located in Surry Hills, Sydney to the urban fabric of inner-city Surry Hills, Sydney, Small House not only details exceptional architectural and interiors features, yet presents a solution to the long-standing issue of urban sprawl.
Small House (Image:Trevor Mein)
“I am incredibly thrilled to have been presented with this prestigious award. Small house investigates a new typology in the current urban living space, whilst still reflecting a contemporary lifestyle full of diversity and creativity,” said Domenic Alvaro, principal at Woods Bagot based in the Sydney Studio.
The philosophy of small house was to build upwards rather than outwards, by assigning multiple uses to single spaces, with flexibility for change in the future. The site is comparable to that of a suburban garage at 7mx6m.
Small House competed against 18 short-listed projects, from internationally renowned practices to small local architects across the globe, within the House category.
Alvaro said: “Sydney’s urban landscape needs an injection of innovation as the city looks to more efficient use of urban areas to accommodate population growth.
“Small House was designed not only to be my own home, but also to test a development model for downtown urban living as an alternative to the ubiquitous luxury apartment.”
The multi-award winning small house has also been awarded with: Residential Architecture (Houses) and Small Project Architecture, at the NSW Australian Institute of Architects Awards; and New House under 200 square metres and the Outdoor category (in collaboration with 360°Landscape Architects) at the annual HOUSES Awards.
