House in Newtown by Architect George
Set on a tiny block of under 70 square metres, Newtown House by Architect George is an exploration of how to cleverly utilise every inch of a compact site.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Clinton Weaver
Photo: Clinton Weaver
Photo: Clinton Weaver
Designed by Architect George, Newtown House is a successful exploration of our ability to live in small and dense urban environments, while remaining connected to sunlight, greenery and the outdoors.
At just 68 square metres, the block, and the house itself, located in Newtown in Sydney, is tiny! The two-storey home has two-bedrooms and two-bathrooms: a total footprint of 35 square metres internally, which is smaller than many apartment spaces.
The design of the interior spaces utilise every millimetre. And if space restrictions weren’t enough of a challenge, the home also has a total of 13 angled boundaries, instead of the common four.
In reconfiguring and extending the original home on site, Architect George deliberately designed the exterior singular in colour and minimal in form, so as to not further overwhelm the surroundings. The interiors were also developed in response to the home’s urban environment and the existing structure, resulting in a predominately white palette.
‘The lightweight addition sits quietly in its busy and grungy environment – openings to the courtyard and rear community park were designed as finely framed apertures and the green roof provides an outlook not only for the subject dwellers but the surrounding dwellers alike, providing a nice contrast to the harder built structures,’ says Architect George.
The home shows how a small footprint and floor area doesn’t mean you need to forsake a functional home, all while remaining connected to sunlight, greenery and the outdoors.
The interior cleverly utilises every millimetre of available space, Architect George transformed the existing terrace on site into a two-bedroom, two-bedroom, two-storey home. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The kitchen occupies the space under the stairs to maximise the use of available space. Photo: Clinton Weaver
House in Newtown is a successful exploration of how to dwell in small and dense environments. Photo: Clinton Weaver
“This project is an exploration of how to dwell in smaller spaces, in dense environments connected to sunlight, greenery and the outdoors.”
The ground floor footprint of the home is just 35 square metres. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The new exposed timber ceiling frame in the dining room ceiling below. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The main bedroom space in the new upper level makes the most of the natural light. Photo: Clinton Weaver
“The new addition is deliberately singular in colour and simple in form so as to not further overwhelm the surroundings. ”
The sculptural and curved shower space. Photo: Clinton Weaver
Space restrictions mean working with every inch of the interior to provide functionality. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The simple and streamlined bathroom space featuring a minimal palette. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The main bedroom featuring artwork by Lucienne Rickard. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The outdoor courtyard space from above. Photo: Clinton Weaver
The house is on one of the smallest blocks in Newtown. Photo: Clinton Weaver