Using its limitations to its advantage, Carter Williamson Architects’ Tree Island looks to overcome its constraints, despite its thin profile.
Spanning just four and a half metres wide, Tree Island is built up, not out. A light-filled void at the heart of the home consolidates the living, dining and kitchen areas into the one room, with a fig tree planted into, yes into, the kitchen island. A long north-facing skylight allows for the double-height space to be flush with natural light, while bringing the garden inside.
Carter Williamson created a contemporary addition to increase living space for the inner west dwelling. A small courtyard sits between new and existing, with the rear garden providing laneway access. A roof terrace concealed by the existing dwelling’s roofline provides a sunlit relaxation and space for occupants.
The dwelling’s height increases as it moves further away from the street, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study all located within the space. An earthy, contemporary palette of concrete, marble and brick contrasts with rich timber and soft furnishings which exude a sense of luxury within the space.
