From the street, the home appears as an original semi-detached terrace house, while walking through the home, or approaching from the rear, it is surprisingly composed of three levels.

The goal of the project was to enhance the sense of space and illumination within a narrow semi-detached terrace house. Industrial materials such as brick, polished concrete, OSB boarding, and steel mesh were used for their texture and visual interest.

To respect the heritage elements of the property, the front facade, original roof, and front two rooms were preserved in their original state. The original lime rendered kitchen wall has been kept as a feature delineating the transition between old and new sections.

Many items and materials from the demolition were reused such as glass bricks, doors, bricks, structural wood and corrugated iron.

Bricks from the demolition were repurposed for the garage, garden paths, retaining walls, and front porch. The hot water gas was replaced with three-phase power for continuous electric water heaters.

An open timber staircase with a central light well and extensive skylights illuminates the heart of the house.

Architecture & Design: Can you describe the initial vision for this project and how it evolved over time?

Sandbox Studio: The clients, a couple working in creative fields, came to us with an initial vision of maximising volume and light with the original semi-detached terrace home, and incorporating sustainable finishes/features.

We were on the same page with the clients, and the shared vision was for a pared-back aesthetic for the new works, radically contrasting to the original home.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design and construction phases, and how did you overcome them?

There were challenges with the foundations and excavation under the house for the lower level. Being a narrow site, we had to excavate close to the adjacent neighbours boundary walls and footings.

This meant that the lower level ended up narrower in width due to the retaining walls required. We overcame this challenge by leaving the concrete block retaining walls exposed internally, adding to the industrial aesthetic.

How did you ensure that the project met the client’s needs and expectations?

We had many meetings with the clients and communication was very open throughout the design process. Also they came to us with sketches and ideas

Were there any unique or innovative techniques or materials used in this project?

Steel Mesh - used for the stair balustrade, as a light transparent 'screen'.
Perforated mesh - used for the upper stair landing.
OSB - Oriented Strand Board - used as walling, flooring and joinery finish in the master bedroom.

How does this project fit into your broader portfolio and design philosophy?

The Stealth House project is similar to the projects we regularly enjoy being able to work on, as our studio is based in Sydney' Inner West, where there are many character homes ripe for renovation.

It really aligns with our philosophy of sustainability and using recycled materials. But this project is quite unique and the client was a little more adventurous than usual for sure!

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