Renato D’Ettorre Architecture was enlisted to transform this grand 1890s three-storey terrace house and stable into a contemporary family home. The generous L-shaped property includes a terrace house with carriageway, stable and grounds including a pool, carport and stone fencing! In considering the re-design, the architects were inspired by the historic feel of the building, settling on an Italianate translation which is both classic and contemporary.

This modern-meets-classical dynamic was achieved through the introduction of a double height brick vault ceiling, and the restoration of ornate fireplaces, staircases and the entry glass panelled door. The architects also worked to highlight and feature a number of arches within the building, lending the home a distinct sense of European grandeur. The materials here, too, create a tactile connection between past and present, as terracotta tiles, Carrara marble and white stuccoed walls provide a visual link between Italy and Surry Hills!

This house also looks to the future, through considered approaches to sustainability. The home is passively cooled, and uses underfloor gas heating and hydronic radiators in conjunction with double glazing and strategically placed skylights. The carport roof is topped with greenery, and in winter the conservatory is transformed into a wintergarden. Fresh inclusions of blinging gold in the bathroom and kitchen also place the home firmly the present!

The heritage listed property required skilled stonemasons to preserve and repair the sandstone walls, in order to bring the grandeur of the past into the modern day. Engaging craftspeople on the home also allowed smaller details, such as interior timber mouldings, stair balusters and re-discovered ornate walls to be returned to their former glory. Viva Italia!