As Claire and Hugh’s twins approached their teenage years, it became clear that their home no longer suited the needs of their growing family. While they considered alternative properties, their strong attachment to the location continued to draw them back. The three-bedroom house, built in the 50s or 60s, posed several challenges: a confusing rear-facing entry, a dark and exposed street-facing living room, a single shared bathroom, and inadequate separation between living and sleeping spaces. Their vision for the new home was to create a light, bright, and comfortable environment—everything their current house lacked.

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While most living spaces today revolve around the television, the heart of Claire and Hugh’s home has always been their long, rustic dining table. Whether for meals, conversation, games, crafts, or work, it was the focal point of daily life. Naturally, the new design was centred around this table, seamlessly connecting it to the kitchen, living areas, and outdoor spaces.

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To address the existing layout, the central part of the home was reimagined, adding two bathrooms, a new laundry, and improving circulation. The existing living room was converted into a master bedroom, one of the three bedrooms was transformed into a rumpus room, and a new extension introduced a street-facing side entry. This led directly to a spacious living area at the rear, which opened up to outdoor decks on the north and west sides, establishing a strong visual and physical connection to the landscape.

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Sustainability was a key priority in the design, integrating both passive and active eco-friendly features: north-facing glazing with summer shading, a suspended concrete floor for thermal mass, recycled brick walls, heat-pump hydronic floor heating, a solar hot water system, and a solar array. The result is a home where natural light fills the space year-round—winter sun streams into the lounge, while summer shade from eaves and pergola battens allows daylight without overheating. The design, characterised by a calming and earthy palette of recycled brick, timber cabinetry, and polished concrete, revolves around the central dining table with views of the garden.