ARTARMON HOUSE EXTENSION - HERITAGE CONSERVATION AREA

Heritage Meets Modern Living: A Contemporary Home in Artarmon’s Conservation Area

 

Nestled in Sydney’s leafy Lower North Shore, Artarmon offers great schools, village charm, and family-friendly living. Much of the suburb, however, is governed by strict Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) controls—posing a unique challenge for modern residential design.

 

Our clients, a couple with three daughters, loved the area but understood the design limitations that came with heritage properties. Before committing to a purchase, they engaged WWAA to assess development feasibility. After a detailed site review and early consultation with a heritage specialist, we identified key elements—such as the original façade, chimney, and fireplace—that needed to be retained. This meant working creatively within a tight and regulated footprint.

 

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The Design Brief: How to Create Space and Flexibility Within Heritage Limits

 

The challenge: design a home with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a flexible study/family space, all while preserving the heritage fabric and achieving a cohesive family lifestyle. 

 

Our approach centred on five key strategies:

 

1. Courtyard as the Connecting Heart

We introduced a landscaped courtyard to separate old and new. This green space brings in light, encourages cross-ventilation, and acts as the home's visual and spatial anchor.

 

2. Reorganising the Original Floorplan

The upper level of the retained structure was reconfigured into four bedrooms and a shared family retreat—designed to support the daughters' evolving needs.

 

3. Flexible Multigenerational Living

Downstairs, an unused laundry was transformed into an en-suite bathroom, forming a private guest suite or future-ready room for elderly parents—balancing connection and privacy across generations.

 

4. Timeless, Familiar Roofline

A gable roof form extends to the rear, referencing the archetypal idea of “home.” Full-height glass doors open directly to the backyard, dissolving the boundary between indoors and out.

 

5. Integrated Storage and Hidden Services

Custom joinery for cabinetry, bookshelves, BBQ fittings, and air-conditioning systems was integrated within thickened walls. This concealed design solution maintains a clean, open-plan interior while maximising usability.

 

This project demonstrates how thoughtful design can bridge the past and present—delivering a home that is functional, flexible, and deeply connected to both place and family.

 

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📍 Artarmon, NSW | Heritage Conservation Area

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 5 bed | 4 bath | 1 study | Multigenerational living

 

🔍 Designed by WWAA | William Wang Architect & Associates

🌐 Website: wwaa.au

📱 WeChat: yen6878 | Xiaohongshu/Rednote: yen6878

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#Architecture #HeritageConservation #Artarmon #WWAA #ResidentialDesign #MultigenerationalLiving #SydneyArchitect #HCA #ArchitectureAustralia