House storey

This timeworn, pre-1900's workers cottage in the coastal suburb of Shorncliffe, Brisbane was almost in complete disrepair. A young couple saw a glimmer of potential underneath the disarray. Their vision was to give the dilapidated structure a complete transformation and restore it to its original form and character with a luxurious touch.

The project involved designing and renovating the home in two stages. Stage one required a complete overhaul by demolishing the front and rear additions and collapsing foundations. The home was raised slightly to maximise water views. The entire external and part-internal wall lining was stripped to eliminate asbestos and severely damaged materials caused by water and fire.

As each tired material was cautiously removed, the home revealed some pleasant surprises. Love letters and old newspapers from the early 1900’s were found. Character details of the home were discovered including; decorative verandah brackets, detailed fanlights and 3.2 metre ceilings. The couple marvelled at the extraordinary workmanship from the original builder, and hoped they could restore the cottage with a high level of detail and attention it deserved.

Celebrating the transition stage between demolishing and rebuilding, the home received a complete makeover with new timber cladding, decking , balustrade and custom-made windows. The quintessential cottage bull-nose and pyramid roof received new Zincalume roof sheeting. The internal spaces have been reconfigured to create two bedrooms with custom joinery, two luxurious bathrooms, a lounge room (future bedroom) and open plan laundry with a temporary kitchen and dining space.

Stage two focuses on the central hub of the home. The open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces is designed to seamlessly connect with two outdoor spaces which will encourage natural light and ventilation. The separate garage with a studio attached will be positioned to the rear of the property to maximise green space and provide privacy from neighbours.

Site location Shorncliffe, Brisbane

Design status Completed 2019

Construction status Completed 2020