Hill Street House

Modern backyard with a swimming pool, a tiered garden with plants, a white stairway with black railing leading up to a balcony, and outdoor seating under a pergola, surrounded by trees and greenery.

Modern white house with large glass sliding doors, a small porch with steps, a potted plant, and decorative lattice panels on the upper exterior

A modern staircase with wooden steps, black railing, and a white brick wall at the bottom, illuminated by natural light from large window panels.

Hill Street House is the transformation of a 1970s brick veneer dwelling in Park Orchards, set within a dense eucalyptus landscape. While the original home had generous volume, its linear plan and inward-facing rooms limited natural light and connection to the surrounding site. The alteration reworks the existing structure through a series of carefully placed openings, additions and spatial adjustments, shifting the home toward the north and creating a stronger relationship between the interior and the landscape.

At the centre of the project is a new living volume defined by recycled timber post-and-beam elements, which bring warmth, structure and rhythm to the home. The extended roof form lifts above the original house, drawing in light and framing views into the tree canopy. Through the reuse of salvaged materials, upgraded glazing, improved insulation and a more responsive plan, Hill Street House extends the life of the original dwelling while creating a calm, enduring family home shaped by site, material and everyday living.