Queens Park House by Alexander &Co is the transformation of a two story semi-detached home in Sydney. Having been neglected for many years, the dilapidated 1900s house was significantly rebuilt to create a contemporary and elegant family home for a young professional family.
Working within a spatially constrained urban area, Alexander &CO created a new four-bedroom home that explores the use of steel detailing and various natural hues and textures. Though not large, the house features carefully sized rooms and detailed joinery that provide a sense of openness and lightness that belies its scale. By utilising large glazed skylights, operable sliding garden windows and carefully controlled views to various external vistas, the project feels generous and connected to its surrounds.
A hand crafted, sculptural concrete and stucco fireplace as the living and dining room centrepiece ensures the rooms although connected still remain separable and engaging. The soft and natural material palette in the dining area is offset by bold pieces including a striking artwork, 'Below' by Alicia Taylor, ceramic tableware from Ondene and the statuesque Derome table lamp by Pinch.
The home features an incredible curation of art and sculptural pieces throughout. In the living area, a wire sculpture by Morgan Shimeld sits atop the beautiful bespoke fireplace, alongside unique ceramics by Keiko Matsui, while the stunning Peony artwork is by Isamu Sawa. The Agra Knot rug by Armadillo & Co injects vibrant colour into the predominantly neutral space, along with textural warmth underfoot. The space opens up to a gorgeous courtyard, providing a seamless flow between indoors and out. The sculptures in the entrance way are by Den Holm.
The materials explored have an ephemeral quality; pale stone for bench tops and fireplace details, bleached timber veneers to the kitchen and laundry, various hand finished stuccos to bathroom and bedroom walls, custom concrete sink ware and solid timber floors with timber lined and painted ceilings. To contrast this delicate backdrop the client and project team specified darkened steel framed doors and various metal finishes to the tap ware and fixtures.
“The final project has an elegance very much in keeping with that of the home’s owner. Delightful, detailed and slightly feminine, it is a beautifully and carefully conceived inner urban family home.” — Jeremy Bull, Principal and Founder, Alexander &CO.
Styling by Claire Delmar / Photography by Felix Forest
For more inspiration from Alexander &CO, check out the Darling Point and Iluka House projects.
Images courtesy of Alexander &CO