Playhouse

At first glance, Playhouse appears much like its neighbouring terraces, retaining the traditional character and familiar material palette of the original streetscape. However, beyond the heritage façade, the home unfolds into a striking contemporary extension that transforms both the experience of the space and its relationship with the surrounding neighbourhood.

Designed by Carter Williamson, the project embraces its highly visible corner position. As the end terrace in a row of homes, a significant portion of the building is exposed to public view, creating a unique opportunity for the architecture to engage with passers-by. Rather than concealing the extension, the design celebrates it, encouraging those walking past to pause and appreciate the home's craftsmanship, materiality, and form.

Bricks play a central role in connecting the old and new sections of the home, providing both durability and architectural continuity. The extension features Bowral Bricks Chillingham White in a slim 50mm profile, laid in a stretcher bond externally and a stacked bond internally. This subtle shift in laying pattern creates a distinctly different experience from inside to out, offering new perspectives on the material while reinforcing the connection between the home's interior and exterior spaces.

Although the original terrace and contemporary addition feature different finishes, both are united through a carefully curated palette of neutral tones, ensuring the extension feels connected to the home's history while expressing its own architectural identity.

By maintaining consistency in colour and materiality throughout the project, texture becomes the hero of the design. Natural light interacts beautifully with the brickwork, creating constantly changing patterns of shadow and depth that bring warmth and character to the spaces throughout the day.

The result is an interior that feels both calming and visually engaging. Raw, honest materials provide richness and tactility without feeling cold or harsh, demonstrating how thoughtful material selection can create spaces that are both contemporary and welcoming.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the bricks also deliver important functional benefits. Given the home's boundary-to-boundary design, fire performance was a key consideration. The use of brick provides enhanced fire protection, durability and long-term resilience, making it an ideal material choice for this urban setting.

Through its clever use of materials, considered detailing and striking architectural intervention, Playhouse demonstrates how heritage homes can be thoughtfully transformed to meet contemporary lifestyles while contributing positively to the streetscape and broader community.