168 Queen Street, Woollahra

Joint winner - Category B1 Conservation areas – Alterations and additions

Category: B1 Conservation areas: Alterations and additions
Architect: Tzannes Associates
Heritage consultant: Godden MacKay Logan
Builder: A.N.T. Building

Design statement

The site is located on a busy intersection in a heritage conservation area of Woollahra. There is an existing 2 storey 1920’s building on the site. The former residence was converted in part to a doctor’s surgery in 1973 and was conserved and adapted to a rug showroom in 2003.

The brief was to add a 2 bedroom residence with an entrance separate from the existing showroom. Special considerations included the requirements to minimise noise from Ocean Street and maintain visual privacy within their home.

The architectural response was to create a visual separation to distinguish the character of the existing building and the new proposal.  The effects of scale and bulk on the site were minimised by articulating the lower two floors in masonry and housing the third floor within a copper clad roof. The resultant form is compatible with, and addressed the general bulk, scale and subdivision patterns of the terraces to the north and east of the site along Ocean Street.

The spaces are located toward the western boundary to reduce the impacts of noise from Ocean Street. The building form is also setback from the western boundary with appropriately designed screens and landscaping.

The combination of thermal mass, levels of roof and wall insulation, solar screening and cross ventilation contributes to an environmentally appropriate design. The material selection and detailing were determined taking into account long life and low maintenance objectives.

The Queen Street Residence demonstrates how a contemporary addition can be successfully integrated with an existing significant building in a heritage conservation area.