Renovating a heritage property with integrity while bringing it gently into the modern age is an exquisitely delicate art – one mastered by Luigi Rosselli Architects for this grand 1930s home, Villa Renée.

After almost a century standing sentinel over the leafy streets of Sydney’s Woollahra, the monumental home had earned a light touch, which became the guiding philosophy for the project, designing a sympathetic renovation to incorporate the client’s modern needs.

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A key component was connecting the internal features with the refreshed landscape, which was done by repeating shapes and materials – chief among them, our timeless Scala travertine, which is used throughout the home, both indoors and externally.

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The first hint of the home’s renaissance comes at the front, with the addition of tiered grass steps. Each is defined by the geometric Scala batons, which form a rounded edge that adds organic softness to the landscape, echoing the residence’s arched windows while contrasting with the sternly square facade.

The batons engender a contrasting effect – laid vertically, they capture the softness of architectural curves, while the uniformity of the rectangular shapes, standing in serried ranks, brings a sense of stability and structure.

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Juxtaposing with the baton’s consistent shape and form is Scala crazy paving. While still possessing the creamy, calming tones of pale travertine, the organic irregular shapes and random placement bring a sense of lively fun to the downstairs rumpus room.

This playfulness is a clever match for the low-key tone of the room, which is designed as a chill-out space for a growing family. The rumpus room has been kept free of the decorative embellishments that characterise the period home, yet the crazy paving links this basement space to the home’s original upper levels.

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Travertine, and particularly the use of crazy paving would deliver a Mediterranean aesthetic to any space, but Scala travertine is especially evocative, and appropriate here. Used in abundance and paired with airy spaces, swathes of cool white and elegant olive trees whose foliage dances in the light, the combination is a deliberate nod to the owner’s Greek heritage.

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In one of the most dramatic elements of the renovation, the existing modest stairs were replaced with a grand sweeping staircase – a stunning centrepiece for Villa Renée, and surely what the home’s original architect, F. Glynn Gilling, would have chosen if the restricted budget of a 1930s build had allowed. The crazy paving links this basement space to the home’s original upper levels, flowing through to the base of the redesigned stairwell.

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Scala crazy paving also flows through to the outdoor terrace and pool area, visually connecting indoor and outdoor spaces into one cohesive whole. The pale tones of the travertine create a light-reflecting, mood-lifting effect. At the same time, the irregular shapes of the crazy paving give the alfresco area the feel of a Mediterranean island escape – one that, like this home, combines the charm of history with modern luxury.

Project details

Project: Villa Renée

Location: Sydney, NSW

Architecture: Luigi Rosselli Architects

Interior Design: Handelsmann + Khaw

Products: Scala Travertine – Batons and Crazy Paving

Photography: Pablo Veiga

Architecture & Design Team

Eco Outdoor

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