Courtyard House commenced life in 1885 as a generously proportioned Italianate terrace in the Toxteth Estate of Glebe in Sydney.
During the interwar period, like many dwellings in Glebe, it underwent significant unsympathetic alteration into a boarding house.
In reconfiguring it back into a single dwelling, the ambition was to create a courtyard house that afforded much better amenity than the typical terrace typology.
Organised around a central sunny north-east facing courtyard, conceptually based on the Riad – a traditional Moroccan house with an interior shady cool garden court – all interior spaces seamlessly interface with the courtyard.
The green courtyard is the physical and conceptual heart of the dwelling.
By contrast – and like a Riad – its exterior is robust and severe in its restraint and lack of embellishment.
The house is ideal for the mature family with two teenage sons – enabling both retreat and engagement.
COX Director, Joe Agius said…
“The design for the house embraces the ideal of adaptability – it is designed to ‘transform’ easily between three modes – single generous four bedroom home, two x two bedroom homes, and a large two bedroom home with a separate studio. This adaptability is designed-in – including all building services – it challenges the ‘fixed’ way in which design our housing stock, potentially addressing challenges of housing affordability.”
Project Details
Completion Date – 2020
Project Team
Architecture
Cox Architecture
COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.
Key to their ethos is supporting the public life of our cities. Cox does this by ensuring each project makes positive contributions to its public realm – giving more than it takes.
Photography
Robert Walsh
Robert is Sydney-based commercial photographer specialising in architecture and interiors.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Cox Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Robert Walsh. All Rights Reserved.
Get the Builtworks Letter
In every edition of the Builtworks Letter, you’ll get the behind-the-scenes backstory as to how buildings are designed, built, and brought to life.
You’ll hear compelling stories, learn surprising ideas, meet engaging characters, and discover unique voices.